Severe ice conditions affecting traffic in the Bay of Bothnia – normal winter traffic in the Gulf of Finland
The most severe ice conditions in 34 years are hindering vessel traffic in the Bay of Bothnia. At the moment the ice-covered area in the Bay of Bothnia and the Sea of Bothnia is exceptionally wide and thick. The degree of severity this ice winter can also be described by the extraordinary fact that traffic restrictions had to be issued in the Port of Mariehamn, which has not been done for over 30 years.All eight Finnish, Arctia Shipping’s icebreakers are at present involved in icebreaking operations in the Finnish sea areas. In addition, they are assisted by the Swedish icebreaker Frej,