OREANDA-NEWS.  February 10, 2012. The Russian Ministry of Transport has published a summary of the current ice conditions in the Sea of Azov.

The icebreaker Kapitan Moshkin has arrived in the Azov Sea to cut a path through the ice with thickness of 40 cm for the ice-stuck M/V Orel-1 to open water as well as the icebreaker Kapitan Krutov escorting the M/V Pyalma to the Kerch Strait.

The icebreaker Kapitan Demidov is en route to the ice-stranded Zenith, while the Kapitan Chudinov has prepared to escort merchant ship convoy to the Gulf of Taganrog.

Overall, there are 40 ships still locked in the ice-bound strait, 70 vessels are ready to leave the Russian ports.