Current ice conditions are already causing significant problems for ships navigating the sea, but Captain Andres Saar of the icebreaker Botnica warns that even harsher conditions are on the horizon as temperatures rise and melting occurs. He recounted how recently, 36 ships were trapped in ice, with Botnica being the only vessel able to move. The prospect of warmer weather is concerning because it will lead to increased ice movement, further entrapment of vessels, and complicating maritime operations.

Saar stated that the current weather is consistently below freezing, with nighttime temperatures dropping as low as -20 degrees Celsius, which means that ice growth is ongoing rather than diminishing. He emphasized that there is no immediate hope for improvement in water conditions, as the freezing temperatures are firmly in place. The stabilizing factor of extremely cold weather is not letting up, thus maintaining or even increasing the ice coverage in the area.

In addition to the conditions in the Gulf of Riga, Are Piel, the head of the Transport Agency's maritime traffic management department, noted that similar difficult ice conditions are also present in the Gulf of Finland, particularly near Sillamäe and Kunda, although the situation in Muuga Bay is somewhat better. This regional emphasis highlights the broader implications for maritime transport in the Baltic Sea area as shipping routes become more challenging to navigate due to ice.