Winter navigation
Traffic restrictions are imposed to improve the safety and efficiency of winter navigation. Icebreaker assistance will only be given to vessels, which meet the requirements set out in the traffic restrictions.
Latest update:
April 15th 2024, 10:00 LT
Present & announced restrictions
The aim with implementing traffic restrictions is to increase the safety and efficiency of maritime traffic during winter. Only vessels that fulfill the traffic restrictions can receive icebreaker assistance.
Additional winter traffic information
The traffic separation schemes (TSS) in the Quark are temporarily out of use from December 20th 2023, valid time no longer than May 3rd 2024.
The icebreaker activity
Ale: Assists in Sea of Bothnia
Atle: Assists in Bay of Botnia
Frej: Assists in Bay of Bothnia
Oden: Assists in Bay of Bothnia
Ymer: Assists in Bay of Bothnia
Baltica: Fairway work
Scandica: Fairway work
Reporting
Reporting instructions for ships bound for ports with traffic restrictions.
Baltic Icebreaking Management
Information about the Swedish, Finnish and Estonian icebreaking, icechart, icebreaker activities, dirways, etc.
Regulations and guidance for winter navigation
The publication Winter Navigation 2023-2024 summerizes regulations, guidance and contact information for winter navigation to and from Sweden.
Exemptions
Exempts can be granted if there is available ice breaking capacity, or if there is temporary ease in the weather and ice conditions. Please see the Winter navigation publication ch. 2.3 for more information.
Applications for exempts are made by sending the completed form to opc@sjofartsverket.se, no earlier than 10 days before arrival. Incorrectly completed forms will be returned to sender.
Contact information
The icebreaker management can be reached on +46 (0)771-63 25 25.
For urgent matters on-call duty outside normal workinghours.
Email: opc@sjofartsverket.se
Last updated 2024-01-11