Navigation

The information below is in addition to that presented in the chapter Norway, 4. Navigation; some of which also applies to Svalbard

Charts and Publications

Paper Charts

Svalbard is constantly being re-surveyed and charts are being revised and newly published. In later years there has been a focus on waters near retreating glaciers. However, parts of many charts are still based on old surveys, so beware! Kartverket states that caution should be exercised in water depths less than 50m and that areas with water depths of less than 3m will not be re-surveyed. Since most paper charts are 1:100,000 and electronic charts are based on these, Kartverket warns against “over-zooming”.

Norway’s official paper charts can be ordered at Kartverket Print on Demand (POD).

Datum Errors

All charts printed after 1992 are WGS-84 datum and can be used with your GPS without adjustment. Charts based on oder datums will have longitude values that are inaccurate, making it dangerous to rely solely on GPS positions.

Electronic Charts

If you are bound for Moffen Island, Hinlopenstretet or Nordaustlandet, make sure your charts cover these areas, as some electronic charting companies only have coverage up to 80°N. If this is the case, you will need to get paper charts to cover the gap.

Topographic Maps

Svalbard has been extensively mapped topographically at 1:100,000 and 1:10,000 in a few areas. these maps may be useful for venturing ashore and are also useful for navigating in the relatively uncharted waters of Nordaustlandet, Barentsøya and Edgeøya, even though they have no soundings.

The Norsk Polarinstitutt sells print on demand copies online. You may also purchase them in one of the shops in Longyearbyen.

You can also view the topo maps of Svalbard online, and we have provided a link to these online maps for each Svalbard harbour and anchorage entry.

Sailing Directions

A list of sketch maps for Svalbard produced by Den Norske Los (no longer being updated)

We highly recommend the very fine Arctic sailing directions and visitors’ guide, Den Norske Los, Vol. 7, for both, its detailed pilotage and its extensive general coverage of history, climate, ice, flora and fauna, geology and weather.

Vol. 7 is published in both, Norwegian and English. It is now only available online as PDF and it is not integrated into Kartverket online charting as the Den Norske Los volumes for mainland Norway are.

This volume has not been updated since 2018

Tides and Tidal Streams

Tidal streams around Svalbard are generally moderate except to the east of Spitsbergen, but when added to currents, the net speed can sometimes reach 2kt even in open water.

The standard port used when describing tides is Longyearbyen, but, as far as we know, the only tidal gauge for the island group is in Ny-Ålesund.

Compasses

As you progress north along the W coast of Spitsbergen, a magnetic compass will probably become more and more sluggish, perhaps even useless around 78°N. Fluxgate compasses may be affected less. Autopilot compasses may also be affected, producing sluggish or erratic performance,m particularly on northerly courses.

This is caused by the so called compass dip, the angle between the Earth’s magnetic field lines and the horizontal surface, causing the compass needle to tilt downward toward the magnetic poles rather than stay perfectly horizontal.