Baltic Sea ice conditions

The ice in the Bay of Bothnia has drifted northward.

In the northern Bay of Bothnia 30-60 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Farther out ridged, 20-40 cm thick compact drift ice to approximately 7 nautical miles southwest of the Bothnia buoy. The ice field is in places difficult to force and weak ice pressure occurs in places. There is a brash ice barrier in the ice edge. Farther south 10-30 cm thick close ice and large areas of open water.

In the southern Bay of Bothnia there is 15-40 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Off the fast ice there is 5-30 cm thick mainly close ice and new ice to Nordvalen.

In the Quark 20-40 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Inside Vaasa lighthouse 5-30 cm thick drift ice with variable concentration. Farther out open water.

In the Sea of Bothnia 20-35 cm thick fast ice in the archipelago. Off the fast ice, thin drift ice with variable concentration.

In the Archipelago Sea thin ice in places in the inner archipelago. In the fairways mostly open water.

In the western Gulf of Finland thin fast ice in the inner archipelago. Farther out open water.

In the eastern Gulf of Finland 15-35 cm thick fast ice in the inner archipelago. In the outer archipelago open water. In the Gulf of St. Petersburg and the Gulf of Vyborg, 20-40 cm thick ice. Farther out 5-25 cm thick ridged very close ice to Halli and Schepelevski.

Icebreakers: Kontio, Otso and Frej assist in the Bay of Bothnia. Zeus assists in the Quark. Voima assists in the Gulf of Finland.

Restrictions to navigation: Minimum ice class and deadweight required of assisted vessels:
Tornio, Kemi, Oulu and Raahe, IA of more than 4000 tons.
Kalajoki, Kokkola, Pietarsaari and Vaasa, IA and IB of more than 2000 tons.
Kaskinen, Loviisa, Kotka and Hamina, IA and IB of more than 2000 tons and IC and II of more than 3000 tons.
Kristiinankaupunki, Pori, Rauma, Uusikaupunki, Naantali, Turku, Taalintehdas, Förby, Hanko, Koverhar, Inkoo, Kantvik, Helsinki and Sköldvik, I and II of more than 2000 tons.

Vessels bound for Gulf of Bothnia ports in which traffic restrictions apply shall, when passing Svenska Björn, report their nationality, name, port of destination, ETA and speed to ICE INFO on VHF channel 84. This report can also be given directly by phone +46 31 699 100.