About 40 vessels remain stuck in ice in Azov Sea. Among them is the damaged by icebreaker m/v Dolphin-7, and two derelict general cargo vessels, Turkish Alaca-1, holed in ice, and Russian Captain Ivan Vikulov, deserted by crew after the fire in superstructure.
The weather remains unfavorable, with temperatures below zero during day and night time, any positive change in ice conditions can't be excluded for at least a week's time. Nearly all Azov sea area is covered by ice and ice fields, www.odin.tc reports.
The Situation Report doesn't include the vessels sailing to or from Ukrainian ports of Azov sea, meanwhile, there are 10 vessels in Approach List of Mariupol port.
There is still no joint Russian - Ukrainian Situation Report, and as such, there is no knowledge of the exact number of stuck in ice vessels and of vessels which are running out of supplies.
Officials don't say whether the supply of distressed vessels is their responsibility, or it's just business, and owners have to pay to deliver emergency supplies to their vessels. Cost of one helicopter fly with provisions to distressed vessel is about $10,000.
There is one known precedent of supplying m/v Volgo-Balt 239 with provisions by helicopter on commercial basis, i.e. there was no food on board, and left to himself owner had to charter a flight.
