97 ships stuck in Gulf of Finland ice

Icebreakers have been called in to free dozens of ships that are trapped in ice in the Gulf of Finland near St Petersburg.

The administration of St Petersburg's port said yesterday that at least 97 ships were still waiting for help.

The eastern Gulf of Finland has not seen such thick ice since 1992, according to the Federal Agency of Sea and River Transport. Most of the trapped ships were cargo vessels, but there were also some passenger ferries. Many had been trapped for several days.