3. Icebreaking Services Rendering Procedure
4. Statistics
5. Contacts
During winter navigation the FSUE “Rosmorport” Astrakhan branch renders icebreaking services for vessels calling at the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya as well as additional icebreaking services related to the individual escort of vessels with the use of the branch icebreaker serving the interests of a customer on a contractual basis.
Icebreaker escort services are rendered with the use of 3 icebreakers of the Astrakhan branch.
Technical Specifications of the Astrakhan Branch Icebreakers
| Icebreaker name | Register Class |
Overall length Х Width Х Draft (m) |
Capacity (kW) | Endurance (days) | Navigation area |
| Kapitan Chechkin | RRR / M-SP 3.5 (icebreaker)А | 77.58 х 16.3 х 3.5 | 4,650 | 13 | Volga-Caspian Marine Shipping Canal (VCMSC), Caspian sea to ice edge |
| Kapitan Bukayev | RRR / M-SP 3.5 (icebreaker)А | 75.2 х 16.3 х 3.43 | 4,650 | 13 | VCMSC, Caspian sea to ice edge |
| Kapitan Metsayk | RRR / M-SP 3.5 (icebreaker)А | 76.52 х 16.59 х 2.4 | 4,815 | 10 | VCMSC, Caspian sea to ice edge |
Specifications of all Astrakhan branch icebreakers comply with the requirements of operation under sea conditions of the Volga-Caspian Marine Shipping Canal (hereinafter – the VCMSC) and the Northern part of the Caspian Sea for provision of icebreaker escort services for the vessels having permission to call at the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya during winter navigation in accordance with the specified procedure.
2. Icebreaker escort areas
Winter navigation starts from December and lasts to the end of April in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya. Average duration of winter navigation is 95 days, including about 45 days a year with a fixed ice (for the period from January to February). Depending on weather conditions and based on the Astrakhan seaport captain instructions a winter navigation period can be changed.
Ice formation boundaries – area of start if icebreaker escort – can be at the latitude 44°25'N. Under specifically rough ice conditions an ice formation can be observed in the seaports of Makhachkala and Aktau (the Republic of Kazakhstan).
Average distance of icebreaker escort to the Astrakhan seaport is 115 nautical miles depending on ice conditions, size and categories of ice enforcement of the escorted vessels.
Average distance of icebreaker escort to the seaport of Olya is 75 nautical miles depending on ice conditions, size and categories of ice enforcement of the escorted vessels.
3. Icebreaking Services Rendering Procedure
Procedure of icebreaker escort for vessels in convoy
Icebreaker escort services to the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya are rendered by the Astrakhan Branch in accordance with the following requirements:
- Compulsory regulations for the Astrakhan seaport approved by Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia No. 74 dated March 22, 2012 on organization of vessels navigation in ice in the seaport of Astrakhan;
- Compulsory regulations for the Olya seaport approved by Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia No. 222 dated July 11, 2012 on organization of vessels navigation in ice in the seaport of Olya.
Icebreaker escort services for vessels in the convoy to the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya are carried out in accordance with a public agreement for the provision of services to ensure navigation and stay of vessels in the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya and on approaches to them (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement). The terms of the Agreement and the procedure for its conclusion are specified in the section "Harbor Dues and Tariffs of the Astrakhan Branch".
In order to organize icebreaker escort services to the freezing seaports of Astrakhan and Olya during winter navigation 2023-2024 according to Order of FBI “The Caspian Sea Seaports Administration” No. NK-295-po of 16.10.2023, Commission on Organization of Icebreaker escort Services to the Russian Seaports of the Northern Part of the Caspian Sea and its Approaches (hereinafter – Commission) was established and its provisions were approved as well as Commission operational team (hereinafter - Headquarter) was established and its provisions were approved.
The representatives of the Astrakhan branch of the FSUE “Rosmorport” are included into the Commission and Headquarter.
Depending on the ice conditions forecast, captains of the corresponding seaports establish the beginning of the icebreaking assistance period for the winter navigation 2023-2024 (order of the captain of the seaport of Astrakhan No. EE-36-r of 14.12.2023 and order of the captain of the seaport of Olya No. UM-18-r of 12.12.2023).
Icebreaker escort of vessels entering into and leaving the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya is provided by icebreakers of the Astrakhan Branch by moving in the icebreaker convoy from/to the ice edge to/from the anchorages No. 4 and 5 of the seaport of Astrakhan or Anchorage No. 1, and berths of the seaport of Olya.
Information on approaching to the convoy meeting point (CMP) is given 72 hours prior and confirmed 24 hours before the expected approach to the CMP by e-mailing the captain of the Astrakhan seaport at www.portcall.marinet.ru.
The time and the procedure of vessels navigating through ice and the number of vessels navigating simultaneously are defined by the captain of the Astrakan seaport as of 4 p.m. every 24 hours and placed on the website www.ampastra.ru. If the situation becomes complicated and if it is necessary to make changes, the time and order of vessels navigation through the ice are clarified and then published in the Internet.
Depending on the ice situation forecast in the water areas of the Astrakhan and Olya seaports the captain of the seaport of Astrakhan establishes limitations on ice navigation and determines the CMP location. The notification on the ice navigation restrictions and the CMP location is published on the website www.ampastra.ru not later than seven days before the expected date of imposing restrictions on ice navigation and the CMP location. The restrictions on ice navigation are not applied to vessels of age not older than 15 years and meeting the requirements established by the Russian Registry of Shipping regarding independent ice navigation and ice navigation in convoy. In this case the restrictions are imposed on ice navigation, established by the rules of the Russia Registry of Shipping for such vessels.
The convoy is formed by the captain of the Astrakhan seaport based on:
- time of approaching to the CMP;
- time of receiving an application for entering into the seaports or leaving them;
- sequence of vessels moving determined by the General Rules of Navigation and Mooring in the Russian seaports and on approaches to them approved by Order No 463 of 26.10.2017 of the Ministry of Transport of Russia;
- restrictions on ice navigation for vessels.
CMPs for vessels entering into and leaving the seaports are Anchorage No 4 (at the left bank of the Volga River 3047.2-3038.6 km for the anchorage and forming oil tankers) and Anchorage No 5 (at the left bank of the Volga River 3047.2-3038.6 km for the anchorage and forming all vessels, besides oil tankers).
Vessels moving to the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya approach the CMP with the use of VTMS recommendations. Vessels, which have no opportunities to move to the CMP by their own, are provided by ice support in accordance with the request of the shipowner (the captain of the vessel). In order to enter into and leave the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya the vessel should use manual handling by the main engine in the period of ice support.
By approaching the CMP the vessel establishes radio communication with the icebreaker on VHF 16 Channel (call signals of the icebreaker staying in the CMP) and operates on the base of its instructions. In accordance with the command of the icebreaker providing ice support vessels included in the convoy use VHF channels determined by the icebreaker. If it necessary the VTMS Astrakhan provides assistance to establishing radio communication with the icebreaker.
Icebreaker support in the convoy is provided by capital icebreakers. If no possibility to move in the convoy the vessel can ask for individual icebreaker support provided by icebreakers free of icebreaker support in the convoy on a contract basis. Under heavy ice conditions, ice pressure, ice reefing, the incapability of vessels to maintain predetermined speed in the convoy restrictions are imposed over the power prediction factor not less than 1000 kW.
In the context of the real ice situation in the water area of the seaports of Astrakhan or Olya and its technical performances vessels can move independently controlled by the icebreaker or with the use of recommendations of the VTMS Astrakhan.
Vessels moving independently should inform the VTMS Astrakhan on the passage of route points and inform the operator of the VTMS Astrakhan about the ice situation on the route.
The reserves of fuel, food and water on the vessel should ensure endurance of the vessel not less than 20 days before approaching the CMP to enter into the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya. If the vessel is in the area of ice support for more than 20 days from approaching the CMP, the captain of the seaport of Astrakhan takes urgent measures on vessel support to the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya.
Icebreaker dues are collected for icebreaker support in the convoy provided by the Astrakhan Branch. Information on the rates of icebreaker dues and the procedure of collecting them are given in the Section “Astrakhan Branch Port Dues and Tariffs”.
Procedure on the individual icebreaking support
The Astrakhan branch provides services for individual icebreaking support in accordance with the terms of the standard contract for the rendering services in icebreaking support (hereinafter – the Agreement).
For the execution of the contract, the customer sends an application to the Astrakhan branch fax: +7 (8512) 58-57-76 or email address mail@ast.rosmorport.ru. The Application will be reviewed within one working day and in presence of technical possibility of granting of corresponding services to the customer is sent issued by the Astrakhan branch of the service Agreement for signing. The original Contract signed by the customer must be returned in the Astrakhan branch.
Information on the rates for individual icebreaking support is provided in the Section “Astrakhan Branch Port Dues and Tariffs”.
Information on the number of vessels that were provided individual icebreaker support by the icebreakers of the Astrakhan Branch and made the call at the seaports of Astrakhan or Olya.
| Winter navigation | Number of vessels that made the call at the seaports with individual icebreaker support, in units | |
| Astrakhan | Olya | |
| 2009-2019 | ||
| 2009-2010 | 265 | 80 |
| 2010-2011 | 403 | 119 |
| 2011-2012 | 310 | 52 |
| 2012-2013 | 391 | 47 |
| 2013-2014 | 367 | 55 |
| 2014-2015 | 763 | 70 |
| 2015-2016 | 470 | 16 |
| 2016-2017 | 342 | 12 |
| 2017-2018 | 484 | 28 |
| 2018-2019 | 435 | 69 |
| 2019-2020 | – | – |
| 2020-2021 | 743 | 55 |
| 2021-2022 | 351 | 22 |
| 2022-2023 | 707 | 32 |
| 2023-2024 | 772 | 177 |
Information on the average route lenght of the icebreker support provided for the vessels that made the call at the seaports of Astrakhan or Olya.
| Winter navigation | Average route lenght of the icebreker support provided for the vessels that made the call at the seaports, in sea miles | |
| Astrakhan | Olya | |
| 2009-2019 | ||
| 2009-2010 | 101 | 65 |
| 2010-2011 | 135 | 70 |
| 2011-2012 | 133 | 97 |
| 2012-2013 | 133 | 97 |
| 2013-2014 | 130 | 80 |
| 2014-2015 | 133 | 97 |
| 2015-2016 | 120 | 65 |
|
2016-2017 |
125 |
70 |
| 2017-2018 |
135 |
81 |
| 2018-2019 | 98 | 56 |
| 2019-2020 | – | – |
| 2020-2021 | 133 | 97 |
| 2021-2022 | 101 | 56 |
| 2022-2023 | 125 | 95 |
| 2023-2024 | 130 | 90 |
Information on the number of vessels that were provided individual icebreaker support by the icebreakers of the Astrakhan Branch.
| Winter navigation | Number of vessels that were provided individual icebreaker support, in units | Average route lenght of the icebreker support provided for the vessels, in sea miles |
| 2009-2019 | ||
| 2009-2010 | – | – |
| 2010-2011 | 1 | 70 |
| 2011-2012 | 1 | 28 |
| 2012-2013 | 2 | 28 |
| 2013-2014 | 8 | 30 |
| 2014-2015 | 9 | 49 |
| 2015-2016 | 10 | 35 |
|
2016-2017 |
1 |
32 |
| 2017-2018 | – | – |
| 2018-2019 | 11 | 28 |
| 2019-2020 | – | – |
| 2020-2021 | 7 | 28 |
| 2021-2022 | 1 | 32 |
| 2022-2023 | 5 | 15 |
| 2023-2024 | 4 | 12 |
You can find additional information on providing icebreaker support to vessels in the convoy and individual icebreaker support to vessels moving to the seaports of Astrakhan and Olya by the FSUE “Rosmorport” Astrakhan Branch by telephones
+7(8512)58-48-21 additional 223 (round-the-clock),
+7(8512)58-48-21 additional 217 (Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Astrakhan time, the lunch break from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.) or
send the request by fax +7(8512)58-52-91 or via e-mail: mail@ast.rosmorport.ru
