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:
March 21st 2023, 09:00 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 in the Quark are temporarily out of use from 7 February 2023.
The icebreaker activity
Ale: Assists in the Quark
Atle: Assists in northern Bay of Bothnia
Frej: Assists in southern Bay of Bothnia
Oden: Assists in Bay of Bothnia
Ymer: Assists in Bay of Bothnia
Scandica: Fairway work
Baltica: Fairway work
Reporting
Reporting instructions for ships bound for ports with traffic restrictions.
Ice report & ice forecast
Swedish Ice Service, ice report (link)
Ice chart (link)
Baltic Icebreaking Management (link)
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
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. Incorrectly completed forms will be returned to sender.
Last updated 2022-02-08