The coldest winter in 30 years is calling for snowplows.

The most freezing winter in 30 years is calling for tugboats.

In Køge Harbour, ice needs to be broken to allow ferries to Bornholm to sail. 15 min. ago

Snow and ice can be a harsh experience on roads and railway lines.

But it can also be just as harsh on the water when sea areas freeze over.

And when that happens, it may be necessary to call on the towing company Tambour Towage from Guldborg.

They have four tugboats, several of which have been fully operational this winter, clearing ice from areas such as Småland waters, Næstved Harbour, and Køge Harbour.

This has been necessary, explains Bjørn Madsen, who is the captain of the tugboat *Nadir*.

He has been sailing for 26 years and has never experienced anything like it in Danish waters.

"This winter has been special because it’s so rare to have ice winters. The last time was back in 1995/96, when we had an ice winter of this magnitude, where the waters freeze solid. So it’s particularly unusual," says Bjørn Madsen.

Right now, *Nadir* is navigating around Køge Harbour, where she was out this morning breaking a ship free.

In addition to rescuing ships stuck in the ice, they are also out three times daily to break up the ice across the entire harbour so it can function as a port at all.

"If we hadn’t been here, routes like the Bornholm ferry would have had to suspend their sailings, for example, because they wouldn’t have been able to enter and leave the harbour themselves. When ice remains stationary for a long time, some ships simply can’t sail through it," says Bjørn Madsen.

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