Ice and Ice reports

Pack Ice

Sea ice conditions around Svalbard are shaped by two main forces: the last warm reach of the N-flowing Gulf Stream and polar pack ice drifting SW along the east side of the archipelago. Wind also plays a major role and can quickly change the situation.

Ice can move fast. Speeds of up to 60 nautical miles per day are possible when driven by wind and current, and 30 nautical miles per day is common. If ice is within 200 nautical miles of your position, it should be monitored closely.

In 2011, pack ice entered Isfjorden and several visiting boats became trapped in Longyearbyen in late July. With closer attention to ice forecasts, they could have left before the ice arrived. The lesson is simple: never relax your vigilance in waters where ice may be present.

Ice conditions vary greatly from year to year, and this variability is increasing as the Arctic warms rapidly and sea ice continues to decline.

In general, you can plan on the following:

The passage from Tromsø or Torsvåg to Bjørnøya and onward to Sørkapp and S-Spitsbergen is usually ice-free by early June.
Boats departing early in the season should be ready to make landfall north of Isfjorden. In some years, a few weeks after the W-coast of Spitsbergen clears, winds can push new pack ice around Sørkapp from the east, temporarily blocking Hornsund and sometimes Bellsund and Isfjorden.
When heading for the N-coast of Spitsbergen, Hinlopenstretet, or Nordaustlandet, be aware that pack ice can move rapidly at any time. Driven by wind and current, it can trap boats in anchorages or between the ice and the coast. Up-to-date ice information and a solid understanding of ice movement are essential in these areas.

Glacier or Berg Ice

Throughout the summer, some freshwater (berg) ice calved from glaciers can be found in Spitsbergen’s fjords and anchorages, with a few larger pieces drifting along the coast.

While often strikingly beautiful, this ice requires constant vigilance when underway, especially in fog. Be aware that modern solid-state radars generally do not detect icebergs.

Ice can also drift into anchorages that were previously clear, sometimes requiring a move during the night. With continuous daylight this is less problematic than in darkness, but it is still wise to maintain a regular ice watch while at anchor.

In some places it is possible to approach glacier fronts quite closely, but this carries real risks. Large pieces of ice can calve from the face and create powerful waves, and submerged ice may resurface some distance away.

Walking on glaciers is hazardous unless you are properly trained and equipped with crampons, an ice axe, and a rope. Guided glacier walks are available from Longyearbyen.

Berg ice is not a concern at Bjørnøya.

Ice Reports

Via the Internet

The Norwegian Met Office publishes daily ice charts for Svalbard from Monday to Friday. These high-resolution charts are based on several satellite data sources, mainly Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical imagery, and show sea ice concentration as well as areas of fast ice.

Boats with satellite communications can contact Istjenesten (istjenesten@met.no) to request compressed ice chart files. Requests should include the period required and an email address. Reports are available daily, Monday to Friday.

Those with internet on board can also visit the ArcticInfo section of Kystverket’s Barentswatch website, which provides daily updated ice information and has proven to be very accurate.

Via Navtex

Ice edge information, useful for avoiding areas with ice, is broadcast in text via Navtext for Svalbard (A). Updates are transmitted daily at 08:00, with an additional broadcast at 16:00 on Tuesdays only.