Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing
System – Preparatory Phase
SIOS-PP
Work Package 5 / Task 5.4
Project Deliverable - D5.4
General transport assessment and future strategy
(commercial and non-commercial)
Due date of deliverable: Month 20
Actual submission date: Month 27
Responsible organisation for this deliverable: IGF PAS
WP5 / Task 5.4
Table of contents
I. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 3
II. Analysis of of the questionnaire .............................................................................. 4
1. Section III: Transportation................................................................................ 5
1.1 Small boats ................................................................................................ 6
1.2 Snowmobiles ............................................................................................. 9
1.3 Other means of transportation ................................................................. 11
2. Vessels .......................................................................................................... 12
3. Needs and requirements ............................................................................... 14
3.1 Destination points .................................................................................... 14
3.2 Starting points.......................................................................................... 15
3.3 Transit points ........................................................................................... 17
3.4 Means of transportation ........................................................................... 17
3.5 Number of visitors.................................................................................... 19
3.6 Periods of stay in Svalbard ...................................................................... 19
3.7 Transportation of cargo............................................................................ 20
3.8 Requirements .......................................................................................... 20
III. Transport to Svalbard - existing infrastructure ..................................................... 22
1. Sea transport .................................................................................................. 22
2. Air transport .................................................................................................... 24
IV. Transport within Svalbard - existing infrastructure............................................... 25
1. Boats................................................................................................................ 25
2. Aircraft ............................................................................................................. 28
3. Snowmobiles ................................................................................................... 29
4. Helicopter......................................................................................................... 31
5. Logistics support .............................................................................................. 32
V. Conclusions.......................................................................................................... 33
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I.
INTRODUCTION
The main objectives of the Work Package 5 are an analysis and the resulting
establishment of actions and estimation of efforts and costs which are necessary to optimize
the logistical functionality of the SIOS infrastructure. The analysis is, in the first place, based
on the existing infrastructure.
The analysis under Task 5.4 – Transport Logistics, included in this report, covers the
aspect of identification of transport needs and assessment of the existing transport logistics
infrastructure.
There are four main locations of all year round research and monitoring in Svalbard:
Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Barentsburg and Hornsund. Their activities require a large
number of means of air, sea and land transportation, both for personnel and cargo.
At present there is no single logistics operator that would serve the needs of all existing
stations and research sites. Coordination and optimization of transport of persons and cargo
with the use of the existing infrastructure will enable to reduce the costs incurred at present
and will contribute to more efficient scientific activities in the region.
A stronger integration of research based on all the land-based sites in Svalbard and
potential multisite research infrastructure access projects will require significantly improved,
flexible transport connections between the four main research centres in Svalbard. This may
involve both air-borne, sea-borne and terrestrial means of transportation, and have,
therefore, to be coordinated with Task 5.3 (Marine vessels).
Options of transportation to and from Svalbard, as well as within Svalbard, using
commercial and non-commercial transportation infrastructure will be investigated.
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II. ANALYSIS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE
In order to obtain information which could be helpful to achieve the objectives set out
under Work Package 5 of the Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System (SIOS)
project, a questionnaire has been developed.
The aim of the questionnaire sent to all research institutions located or operating in the
Svalbard region, was to analyze existing infrastructure as well as to identify logistical
requirements in Svalbard and its surroundings. Data provided on the questionnaire was
meant to be used to identify main potential logistic needs such as energy demands, data
transfer requirements, people and equipment transportation, research platform maintenance
and service optimization.
The questionnaire was divided into 5 sections:
1) Section I: General information. This section collected information about the person
filling in the questionnaire and the institution he represented;
2) Section II: Infrastructure. This section was intended for institutions and persons that
own or operate facilities in the Svalbard area;
3) Section III: Transportation. This section was intended for institutions and persons that
own or operate means of transportation in the Svalbard area. Its aim was to enable
identification and analysis of the existing and available type of transportation in
Svalbard;
4) Section IV: Vessels. This section was intended for institutions and persons that own
or operate vessels in the Svalbard area. Its aim was to enable identification and
analysis of the vessels operating in Svalbard;
5) Section V: Needs and requirements. This section was intended for institutions /
research groups / individual researchers operating in the Svalbard region. Its aim
was to allow identification of needs for common supplies, transport and
accommodation, and as a result, determination and implementation of logistical
improvements in these fields.
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ANALYSIS OF SECTIONS III – V OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE
Within the framework of this Report (Task 5.4 – Transport logistics), an analysis of these
parts of the questionnaire which relate to transport logistics has been performed. The
analysis covered Sections III, IV and a significant part of Section V of the questionnaire.
1. SECTION III: TRANSPORTATION
Section III concerning transport infrastructure owned or operated by the SIOS
Project partners, has been filled in by 7 institutions from the following countries:
1) Norway - 3 institutions;
2) Poland - 2 institutions;
3) Czech Republic - 1 institution;
4) United Kingdomi - 1 institution.
Due to the limited number of responses, the objective, i.e. the analysis of the
existing and available types of transportation in Svalbard, has been achieved in a
reduced degree. There might be also other institutions involved in the SIOS
Project that own or operate means of transportation in Svalbard.
The following tables present basic information on the means of
transportation, availability to which has been declared by the institutions and
persons that own or operate means of transportation in the Svalbard area, which
filled in the questionnaire.
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1.1
Item
Small boats
Name of the
owner / operator
Type
Location
Number
of units
Months of
availability
1
Kings Bay AS
Coastal boat
“Teisten”
Ny-Alesund
1
05 - 10
2
Centre for Polar
Ecology,
University of
South Bohemia
Zodiac
Petuniabukta
2
07 - 09
3
The University
Centre on
Svalbard, UNIS
Polarcirkel 820
Longyearbyen
1
04 - 12
4
Natural
Environment
Research Council,
British Antarctic
Survey
Buster M Boat
Ny-Alesund
1
06 - 09
5
Gdynia Maritime
University
Pontoon GT 560
ALRIB-W
Gdynia
1
06 - 10
Remarks
Boat equipped to do smaller
scientific operations,
transportation and survey in
Kongsfiorden and Krossfjorden.
As a work boat it comfortably
takes 4 persons, for
transportation it is registered for
up to 10 passengers.
The boat is available for use for
scientists.
Available for short-term
fieldwork in Petuniabukta for up
to 8 persons. Request to use
must be made in advance,
conditions of use discussed on
an individual base
The boat can transport up to
126 passengers or 2000 kg
cargo. Normally available on
commercial terms; terms may
vary depending on cooperation
agreements.
Small boat for use in the
sheltered waters of Kongsfjord,
skippered by the station
manager. Scientists are asked
to pay the cost of outboard
motor fuel
on board of the vessel
Horyzont II
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6
Gdynia Maritime
University
Rescue boat
DSB/IRB420
7
Institute of
Geophysics,
Polish Academy of
Sciences
Colmet RIB
Hornsund
1
04 - 10
8
Institute of
Geophysics,
Polish Academy of
Sciences
Bombard C3
Hornsund
1
04 - 10
9
Institute of
Geophysics,
Polish Academy of
Sciences
Zodiac
Hornsund
1
04 - 10
10
Institute of
Geophysics,
Polish Academy of
Sciences
Aluminium boat
Hornsund
1
04 - 10
11
The University
Centre on
Svalbard, UNIS
Zodiac Mark 3
Longyearbyen
5
05 - 10
12
Norwegian Polar
Institute
various models
Longyearbyen
and Ny-Alesund
15 (jointly
LYR and
NyA)
05 - 09
Gdynia
1
06 - 10
on board of the vessel Horyzont
II
Boat for up to 5 persons.
Available for use; request to use
must be made in advance;
terms may vary depending on
cooperation agreements.
Rubber boat for up to 5 persons.
Available for use; request to use
must be made in advance;
terms may vary depending on
cooperation agreements.
Rubber boat for up to 4 persons.
Available for use; request to use
must be made in advance;
terms may vary depending on
cooperation agreements.
Boat with flat bottom, suitable
for equipment transportation;
boat for up to 6 persons.
Available for use; request to use
must be made in advance;
terms may vary depending on
cooperation agreements.
Normally available on
commercial terms; terms may
vary depending on cooperation
agreements.
Regular rental terms available
at: http://www.npolar.no/
no/tjenester/logistikk /utstyr.html
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WP5 / Task 5.4
Information obtained in the filled in questionnaire leads to a conclusion that rental
(or use on other basis) of small boats is possible in three of the four main research
locations in Svalbard, enabling research in the surrounding areas. No information has
been obtained regarding a possibility of rental of small boats in Barentsburg.
Table 1: Location of small boats available for SIOS Partners in Svalbard
Detailed terms and conditions of rental of small boats should be agreed directly with
their operators, as there is no uniform system and tariff for this kind of service. It would
be purposeful to create a common database of the boats, which are available for rental
or for use on other conditions, and in the latter case – to agree and unify such
conditions. This would enable better planning and more efficient utilisation of the
existing small boat infrastructure in the areas of the main research centres in Svalbard.
Creation of such database and making it publicly available would encourage also
other entities participating in the SIOS Project (as well as entities not participating in the
project) to include their infrastructure in the database.
It also seems purposeful to encourage groups and individual researches who plan
seasonal activities in various regions of Svalbard to make available in such database
information about their plans and resources. This would enable more efficient joint use
of these resources.
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1.2
Snowmobiles
Name of the owner
/ Operator
Type
1
Kings Bay AS
various
models
Ny-Alesund
7
02 - 05
2
The University
Centre on Svalbard,
UNIS
various
models
Longyearbyen
10
12 - 05
3
Institute of
Geophysics, Polish
Academy of
Sciences
Polaris
(various
models)
Hornsund
7
11 - 06
4
Norwegian Polar
Institute
various
models
Longyearbyen and
Ny-Alesund
30
11 - 05
Item
Location
Number Months of
of units availability*
Remarks
Both older two stroke and
brand new four stroke
engines.
Including sledges if needed
Normally available on
commercial terms; terms
may vary depending on
cooperation agreements.
Available for use; request
to use must be made in
advance; terms may vary
depending on cooperation
agreements. Including
sledges if needed
Regular rental terms
available at:
http://www.npolar.no/
no/tjenester/logistikk
/utstyr.html
*the use of snowmobiles depends upon adequate snow conditions
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Similarly as in case of the small boats, snowmobiles are available for rental or on
other basis in three out of the four main research locations in Svalbard. Detailed terms
and conditions of rental and use of snowmobiles should be agreed directly with their
operators.
Table 2: Location of snowmobiles available to SIOS partners in Svalbard
Information on availability of snowmobiles in Barentsburg has not been obtained,
but due to a small distance from Longyearbyen, one can assume that snowmobiles are
available in the entire Management Zone 10.
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1.3
Ite
m
1
Other means of transportation
Name of the
owner / Operator
Institute of
Geophysics, Polish
Academy of
Sciences
Type
Number of
units
Months of
availability
Location
Remarks
Amphibious
vehicle (PTS)
2
06 - 09
Hornsund
not available for rent
2
The University
Centre on
Svalbard, UNIS
tracked vehicle
BV-206
3
10 - 05
Longyearbyen
3
The University
Centre on
Svalbard, UNIS
Car/truck/bus
different models
5
01 - 12
Longyearbyen
Up to 16 passengers.
Normally available on
commercial terms; terms
may vary depending on
cooperation agreements.
Transport between 5 and
9 passengers and cargo.
Normally available on
commercial terms; terms
may vary depending on
cooperation agreements.
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In Longyearbyen it is possible to use cars and buses operated by UNIS. The
amfibious vehicles mentioned by IGF PAS are used by the Polish Polar Station in
Hornsund for loading and unloading of supply vessels. This is due to the fact that in
Hornsud there is no quay and vessels must anchor at a distance of a few hundred
meters from the shore.
2. SECTION IV: VESSELS
Section IV of the questionnaire has been filled in by 8 institutions. 10 vessels have
been declared to be available.
Table 3: Vessels declared in the questionnaire
All declared vessels have been classified as „research vessels” and all had
operating status.
Details related to the declared vessels as well as other vessels operating in the
Svalbard area are discussed in the Report concerning Task 5.3 – Research vessel
inventory and sailing plan for the Svalbard region 2011-2016.
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The following table presents a short characteristic of the vessels, availability of which was declared by the owners and
operators participating in the SIOS Project:
Item
1
2
Name of the owner /
Operator
Institute of Oceanology,
Polish Academy of
Sciences
Gdynia Maritime
University
Name of the
vessel
Home location
Months of
availability
in Svalbard
No of
cabins/berths
available
Cargo space /
frozen cargo
space available
Oceania
Gdansk
06-08
7/14
2/0,5
Horyzont II
Gdynia
06-09
11/42
132/7
3
Institute of Marine
Research
G.O. Sars
Bergen
02-11
15/28
-
4
Institute of Marine
Research
Johan Hjort
Bergen
02-11
16/29
-
5
Institute of Marine
Research
Haakon Mosby
Bergen
02-11
5/11
-
6
Norwegian Polar Institute
RV Lance
Tromso
03-10
30
600
7
Univerity of Tromso
Helmer Hansen
Tromso
01-12
-
-
University Centre of
Svalbard
Murmansk Marine
Biological Institute of the
Kola Science Centre,
Russian Academy of
Sciences
Swedish Polar Research
Secretariat
RV Viking
Explorer
Longyearbyen
05-12
2/5
40/0
Dalnie
Zelentsky
Murmansk
01-12
10/22
10/2
Oden
Lulea
04-09
65/65
-
8
9
10
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3. SECTION V: NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
This section was intended for institutions / research groups / individual researchers
operating in the Svalbard region. The aim of the questionnaire in this scope was to
identify the needs for common supplies, transport and accommodation. For the needs
of this report, the analysis covered only answers to the questions related to transport
logistics issues.
With regard to section V, information from 16 institutions from 7 countries has been
received: Norway, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Scotland and Italy.
Table 4: Number of responses by country
3.1
Destination points
As main destination points two major scientific and research centres in Svalbard
have been indicated – Ny-Alesund was indicated 12 times and Longyearbyen – 11
times.
The Polish Polar Station in Hornsund was indicated 4 times, while Barentsburg
and Pyramiden were indicated twice.
A number of other locations were also indicated (Isfjord Radio, Riopfjorden,
Kaffioyra, Bjornoya, Prins Karls Forland, and Arctic Ocean/Barents Sea or Svalbard
in general), which means that destination points are not limited to the four main
research locations in Svalbard, but they cover the entire region.
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WP5 / Task 5.4
Table 5: Destination points
The total number of all indicated destination points is larger than the number of
institutions because in some cases the questionnaire was filled in by more than one
person in an institution and/or one person sometimes indicated more than one
destination point.
3.2
Starting points
The objective of the question regarding starting points was to identify the places,
from which journeys to Svalbard commence most frequently, and as a result - to
consider possibilities of joint utilisation of the existing infrastructure.
30 answers have been received to the question concerning starting points.
Locations were indicated in various manners; some respondents indicated specific
cities, while some others indicated the countries in general.
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Table 6: Starting points
A large number of indications of Longyearbyen as the main starting point is due
to the fact that the respondents probably meant Longyearbyen as the starting point to
other locations within Svalbard and not as the starting point to Svalbard.
Except for Tromso, which was indicated 9 times as a starting point, no other
location in mainland Europe was indicated by more than two respondents. In general,
the respondents indicated the places where the institutions represented by them are
located.
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3.3
Transit points
Four locations have been indicated as transit points.
Table 7: Transit points
In mainland Europe, apart from one indication of Copenhagen, only Oslo and
Tromso were indicated. This is due to the fact that regular flights to Svalbard take
place only from airports located in these two cities.
Airplanes from Oslo and Tromso land only in Longyerbyen, and this is why this
location was indicated as the transit point for persons travelling to other destinations
in Svalbard.
3.4
Means of transportation
1) Means of transportation from mainland Europe to Svalbard
Two means of transportation from mainland Europe to Svalbard: airplane and
vessels have been indicated. These means of transportation are practically the
only ways to travel to Svalbard. With no regular connections by sea, airplane
constitutes the easiest, most popular and best available way of getting there.
This is why the places from which there are regular flights to Svalbard have
been indicated as the „transit points”.
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2) Means of transportation in Svalbard
Travelling within Svalbard is determined on the season and on location of
the destination point.
Vessel was indicated most frequently as the means of transportation within
Svalbard. This is the most economic and often the only way of getting to remote
areas of Svalbard. It enables transportation of a larger number of persons as well
as cargo.
As far as travelling between Longyearbyen and Ny-Alesund, by most
respondents airplane was indicated. Due to regular flights it constitutes the least
expensive and most reliable way of getting to Ny-Alesund. Some pesons
indicated other ways of getting to that location, i.e. by sea or snowmobile.
Table 8: Means of transportation within Svalbard
Persons travelling to Hornsund and to other regions of Svalbard primarily
indicated vessel as the preferable means of transportation and in several cases
helicopter was indicated as the second choice. Helicopter enables to reach
hardly accessible locations but has significant load limitations and is expensive.
In the winter and spring season, the only way of getting to Hornsund (apart
from helicopter) is snowmobile.
Within Longyearbyen, also cars were indicated as the means of
transportation, due to the existing road system.
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3.5
Number of visitors
The number of persons associated with institutions involved in the SIOS project
specified and analysed hereunder should not be considered as the actual number of
travellers to Svalbard. It is the number declared by the persons and institutions who
have filled in this part of the questionnaire and it has been used for an analysis of
travels to Svalbard depending on the season of the year.
The number of persons coming to Svalbard was determined to be approx. 1500,
out of which 1250 persons are those declared by UNIS.
Table 9: Svalbard visitors by season of the year
The respondents (excluding UNIS) have declared visits of approx. 250 persons
per year, out of which over 60% - in summer and approx. 30% in spring. Only
approx. 7% visited Svalbard in winter. Regardless of the season mostly groups
consisting of several persons travelling together come to Svalbard.
3.6
Period of stay in Svalbard
Regardless of the season, the majority of visitors declare approximately 2 to 3week stay in Svalbard. Most of the respondents indicated „research” and a significant
part of the respondents also indicated „maintenance and service” as the purpose of
their visit.
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3.7
Transportation of cargo
Most institutions operating in Svalbard transport various types of cargo every
year. The answers given in the questionnaire lead to the following conclusions:
- Institutions operating research facilities in Svalbard transport several tonnes of
cargo every year. Most of them declare transport of cargo on a level of 10005000 tonnes per year, transported exclusively by sea. According to the
declarations this is mainly scientific equipment, food and fuel. One institution
declared transport of approx. 130 tonnes, out of which 50% is fuel;
- Cargo of institutions without their own infrastructure is generally insignificant
(up to a few hundred kg). This is mainly field equipment, scientific equipment,
personal items, samples. Small parcels are transported mainly by air.
3.8
Requirements
The questionnaire contained questions regarding the needs and requirements of
the persons travelling to and staying in Svalbard.
The following table presents the needs and requirements of the respondents
indicated in percentage:
Table 10: Needs and requirements indicated in percentage
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The answers presented above lead to a conclusion that all persons travelling to
and staying in Svalbard need cargo storage. Almost all also need meals and
accomodation. Also other needs and requirements mentioned in the questionnaire
have not been indicated by less than half of the respondents. This means that the
persons operating in Svalbard are not self-sufficient and require various types of
logistics support.
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III. TRANSPORT TO SVALBARD – EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Svalbard is a region remote from typical and popular communication routes. In
practice, there are only two ways of getting there: by air or by sea. It is difficult to get to
Svalbard without transiting through Norway.
The regulations concerning entry to Svalbard are different from the regulations on
the Norwegian mainland. The Svalbard Treaty states that citizens and companies from
all treaty nations enjoy the same right of access to and residence in Svalbard. As a
consequence the Norwegian Immigration Act regulating foreign citizen's entry to
Norway does not apply there. Svalbard is held outside the Schengen area.
Norwegian authorities do not require a visa for visiting Svalbard in itself, but as most
transport links connect Svalbard with Norway, foreign citizens with visa requirements to
the Schengen area do need a valid Schengen visa if they travel through Schengen on
their way to or from Svalbard.
1. Sea Transport
Possibilities of getting to Svalbard by sea are very limited. There is no regular boat
transportation between the Norwegian mainland and Svalbard. Besides, this means of
transportation is limited by the fact that it is only seasonal and depends in a significant
degree on ice and weather conditions on the sea and in Svalbard.
In order to transport passengers and cargo to and from Svalbard, it may be possible
to use the vessels operating in the Svalbard region specified in the Task 5.3 Report.
Information on their sailing plans to Svalbard are contained there.
However, most of the vessels specified in the above mentioned report do not go to
Svalbard on regular basis and most of them also do not guarantee services of
transportation neither of passengers nor cargo.
Transport by such vessels may be possible either if it is planned significantly in
advance or if some vacant places become available, which is difficult to foresee and to
plan.
Adequately earlier planning of utilisation of these vessels is not an easy task from
the logistics point of view, as they depart from different ports located both within and
beyond the Schengen zone. Most of them do not stop in any of the places indicated by
the respondents to the questionnaire as the starting or transit points. Therefore, in order
to travel or to send cargo by these vessels, prior transportation to the places from which
they depart is necessary. This may be not justified from the logistic and financial points
of view and it may also be difficult because of different legal and customs regulations.
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The only vessel sailing to Svalbard regularly once in every 2 to 3 weeks is Norbjorn
operated by Bring Cargo since 2011. Throughout the summer season it supplies goods
to Longyearbyen and Ny-Alesund. In winter the cargo ship service is irregular and fully
dependant on the ice conditions and demand.
In the past it was also possible to use this vessel for transportation of passengers
and goods. An earlier booking was necessary and only a few berths were available, but
thanks to the fact that it operated from early spring until late autumn, it constituted an
essential element in planning of travels and transportation of cargo.
After taking over of this vessel by Bring Cargo, no information is available
concerning possibilities of transportation of passengers and cargo by it. The operator
has been requested to provide such information but no reply has been received.
Another vessel regularly sailing to Svalbard is Horyzont II chartered by the Institute
of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences from the Gdynia Maritime University.
It usually goes to Svalbard twice a year, in late June and early September. 20 berths
and 120 m³ of cargo space (including 12 m³ frozen cargo) are available. It sails from
Gdynia, Poland to Hornsund and Longyearbyen and to other Svalbard locations agreed
in advance.
The sailing plan for each year is prepared until the end of December of the
preceding year and usually approved not later than in February or March.
Due to a limited number of berths and cargo space, the priority is given to
transportation of expedition members and supplies to the Polish Polar Station in
Hornsund. Therefore IGF PAS is not in a position to guarantee availability of
transportation by this vessel to other institutions.
Persons and institutions wishing to travel or to send cargo from Gdynia to Svalbard
and/or back, as well as within Svalbard, should submit applications and inquiries to the
Logistics Department of the IGF PAS (e-mail: polar.igf.edu.pl) not later than by the end
of the year preceding the voyage. Information on the available space is given to the
applicants by the end of March. Applications submitted after the above mentioned date
will be considered taking into account vacant places, however any change of the sailing
plan after March is not possible.
Information on the costs and other conditions of use of the Horyzont II vessel is
available in the Logistics Department of IGF PAS. Information regarding characteristics
of the vessel is available on the Gdynia Maritime University website
(http://www.am.gdynia.pl/).
Persons and institutions wishing to travel or to send cargo by this vessel must
remember that customs clearance and passport control take place in the port of Gdynia.
Therefore they must have passports and must arrange all formalities necessary for
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WP5 / Task 5.4
customs clearance of the goods beyond the territory of European Union.
Very seldom, cargo ships also operate from Murmansk to Barentsburg, but this
service has in recent years been reduced to one rotation per year. Also the Polish
sailing yacht Eltanin which operates within Svalbard throughout the sailing season, sails
out from Gdynia in May and returns in September.
2. Air Transport
Svalbard can be reached by airplanes of the SAS Scandinavian Airlines, which fly to
Longyearbyen from Oslo and Tromso.
In the busy season, which lasts from March to early May (spring season) and from
June to August (summer season) there are two flights every day – one direct flight from
Oslo and one flight via Tromso. In the remaining part of the year there are daily flights
via Tromso (except Saturdays).
Persons travelling to Svalbard should remember that they will have to pass customs
clearance and passport control, as they will leave the Schengen area.
When planning a trip to Svalbard one should take into account at least one stopover
in Oslo. Due to the fact that except from the tourist season the plane to Longyearbyen
leaves Oslo in the early morning, at least one overnight in Oslo should be planned.
There are many hotels in the vicinity of the airport offering accommodation at a wide
price range, accessible by airport shuttle bus.
A journey that would not require any overnight in one of the transit places is
possible only in the busy season.
In the busy season planes from Longyearbyen to the mainland Norway leave in the
very early morning. Therefore, a journey from other regions of Svalbard will involve at
least one overnight in Longyearbyen.
Norwegian airlines plan to start regular flights to Svalbard from March 2013. The
flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen will take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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IV. TRANSPORT WITHIN SVALBARD – EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
The main means of transportation in Svalbard are vessels in the summer season
and snowmobiles in the spring and winter season. There are airplane connections
between Longyearbyen and Ny-Alesund and Svea. Another possibility of travelling
within Svalbard is by helicopters.
Road traffic in Svalbard is very limited. There are no roads connecting different
settlements. Within Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Ny-Alesund, there are road
systems, out of which the largest is the one in the Longyearbyen area. It has in total
approx. 40 km.
General information for travelling in Svalbard, both within and outside Management
Area 10, such as notification and insurance Procedures (including SAR insurance),
transport of firearms instructions, equipment and safety instructions (including the
requirement of carrying an emergency beacon) can be found on the Governor of
Svalbard’s website http://www.sysselmannen.no/. Detailed information on traffic
restrictions is also available there.
In this part of the report, specific commercial transport solutions with regards to the
following means of transportation will be presented:
1. Boats;
2. Aircraft;
3. Snowmobiles;
4. Helicopters.
1. BOATS
Apart from the vessels mentioned in the preceding part of the report, a number of small
yachts and vessels are in operation in Svalbard, serving the local needs of tourists and
researchers.
1) Sailing yacht „Eltanin”
„Eltanin” is a sailing yacht operating in Svalbard throughout the sailing season.
It transports passengers and cargo between different locations in Svalbard, as well
as from and to Puck by Gdynia at the beginning and at the end of the sailing
season. The yacht can carry up to 10 passengers (only 7 in the high seas).
The Yacht serves both commercial (tourist traffic) and scientific purposes. It
can be used as a platform for oceanographic research or a base for diving. It is
equipped among other in a Zodiac C310S of a maximum load of 400 kg.
25
WP5 / Task 5.4
The sailing plan of Eltanin for 2013 is as follows:
Time
Route
Availability
1 – 30 Maj
Wladysławowo - Tromso Isbjornhamna -Longyearbyen
Free
June
Free
July 6-8
Longyearbyen - Smeremburgfjorden
-
July 8-
Free from Smeremburgfjorden
free
July 19-20
Free to Smeremburgfjorden
free
July 20-22
Smeremburgfiord - Longyearbyen
-
July 22-23
Free to Hornsund
Free
July 23-25
Hornsund – Longyearbyen
-
July 26 -
Free
August -10
Free
August 11 - 18
Longyearbyen – Kinnvika
-
August 18 -
from Kinnvika - Smerenburgfjorden –
Magdalenafjorden
Free
September
September 12
Free
Longyearbyen - Tromso - Puck
Free
The price list is as follows:
Route: from Longyearbyen to...
Price in PLN
Kaffiøyra
4588 (approx. 8.250 NOK)
Calypsobyen
4588 (approx. 8.250 NOK)
Hornsund (Isbjørnhamna lub Gåshamna)
6470 (approx. 11.600 NOK)
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WP5 / Task 5.4
Kongsfjorden (Ny-Alesund)
6470(approx. 8.250 NOK)
Billefjorden / Dicksonfjorden / Ekmanfjorden
3647 (approx. 6.500 NOK)
Sassenfjorden
3294 (approx. 5.900 NOK)
Barentsburg / Tryghamna / Sveabreen
3411 (approx. 6.100 NOK)
Van Mijenfjorden (Svea)
5529 (approx. 9.900 NOK)
Colesbukta
2470 (approx. 4.400 NOK)
Contact details:
boat operator s/v "Eltanin"
e-mail: [email protected]
Phone number: +48 662 633 422
2) Farm and Langoysund
Farm and Langoysund are vessels operated during the summer season by
Henningsen Transport & Guiding AS.
The Farm vessel is a small expedition vessel with crew. It can take up to 7
passengers and a small cargo. It is a good option for scientific field research
groups.
Farm is available for charter. The price is NOK 10500,- per day + fuel cost.
Langoysund, a larger vessel in daily traffic in Isfjorden is also available for charter,
but it is a lot more expensive.
Farm has some prebooking for 2013. Contact details for requests regarding
periods of availability are as follows:
Henningsen Transport & Guiding AS
P.O.Box 353, NO-9171 Longyearbyen
Tel: +47 7902 1311
Fax: +47 7902 1881
http://www.htg.svalbard.no
[email protected]
3) Boat operated by the University of South Bohemia
The Centre for Polar Ecology Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia
plans to operate a boat in 2013, which should be available on commercial terms.
27
WP5 / Task 5.4
Contact details for issues such as terms of use, prices and sailing plan are given
below:
Milos Jahoda
[email protected]
Centre for Polar Ecology Faculty of Science
University of South Bohemia
Branisovska 31
CZ - 370 05 Ceske Budejovice
4) Polarcirkel boats
In the period from mid-May to 30 September the Spitsbergen Travel company
offers transport by Polarcirkel boats. These are open 8.2 meter long boats. Three
boats with the capacity of 33 persons in total are available. Each boat can load
2000 kg. The area of operation is the Isfjorden area.
Contact details:
Spitsbergen Travel
P.O. Box 548
9171 Longyearbyen
Norway
E-mail: [email protected]
2. AIRCRAFT
There are regular flights between two main research centres in Svalbard:
Longyearbyen and Ny-Alesund. Kings Bay AS charters a 16 seats Dornier 228 aircraft
from Lufttransport AS serving up to four flights weekly between Longyearbyen and NyAlesund during the summer season and two flights a week during winter, usually
Mondays and Thursdays.
Booking of flight tickets is handled by the booking office at Kings Bay
([email protected]). Chartering flights through Kings Bay is possible as well. Due to
the limited capacity of the aircraft, early bookings are recommended.
There is also a possibility of arranging air freight between Longyearbyen and NyAlesund, including air freight of dangerous goods. Due to limited capacity of the aircraft,
it is necessary to book space for cargo well in advance.
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WP5 / Task 5.4
3. SNOWMOBILES
Snowmobiles constitute the main means of transportation in Svalbard in the winter
and spring season. Non-resident visitors can travel on their own without notifying the
Governor within most of Management Area 10, an area on Central Spitsbergen.
Travelling outside Management Area 10 requires notification of the Governor of
Svalbard and possesion of a valid SAR insurance. Below is some basic information on
snowmobile traffic in Svalbard, published on the Governor of Svalbard website
(http://www.sysselmannen.no/):
Notification and Insurance Procedures
If you are visiting Svalbard you can drive a snow scooter on your own within most
of Management Area 10 (parts of the area are reserved for non-motorised activities).
When you join a tour organised by a tour operator in Svalbard or travel with a resident,
you can also drive a snow scooter in parts of the east coast. The map below shows the
areas where visitors can drive snow scooters.
29
WP5 / Task 5.4
Provisions concerning the driver
The same demands are made to snowmobile drivers in Svalbard as in the mainland.
General traffic regulations and most of the articles in the "Road traffic act" apply (…). A
driving licence for cars also applies for snowmobiles. The speed limit in the field is 80
km/h, and it is mandatory to use a helmet.
Driving in Longyearbyen
(…) for snowmobiles, the duty to yield right of way applies to all traffic (motorized, bikes
and pedestrains), from both directions.
All snowmobile drivers are urged to use the River Bed Route so that the town centre
may be spared for as much snowmobile traffic as possible. In the river bed, the speed
limit is 50 km/h, while it is 30 km/h everywhere else in Longyearbyen, both on and off
the roads.
Driving in Barentsburg
The speed limit in Barentsburg is 20km/h. There are no snow scooter paths in the
settlement, and snowmobile drivers drive on the road. Be very careful and pay attention
to pedestrians and cars.
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WP5 / Task 5.4
The Road Traffic Act
In the "Road traffic Act" you will find provisions relating to snowmobile driving (…).
Most institutions carrying our year-long research in Svalbard possess their own
snowmobiles, but some respondents to the questionnaire have declared the need to
rent snowmobiles. In Longyearbyen there are several companies offering snowmobile
rental and transport services on commercial terms, including:
1) Spitsbergen Travel and Ingeniør G. Paulsen AS,
2) Henningsen Transport & Guiding
In the period from approx. 1 January to mid-May Spitsbergen Travel offers transport
by snowmobile or bandwagon. Snowmobiles for small groups (up to 5-6 persons) and
bandwagons for bigger groups (up to 16 x 2 persons) are available. With regards to
cargo, sledges on the snowmobiles and bandwagons are used. The bandwagon sledge
can load up to 2500 kg. The area of operation is in general all of Spitsbergen, but
driving inside the nature reserves requires a permission from Governor of Svalbard.
The contact person is:
Tore Magne Hoem
e-mail: [email protected]),
Detailed information is available at:
http://www.spitsbergentravel.com/Start/Adventures/Expeditions/Transport/.
Ingeniør G. Paulsen AS is a company offering rental and sale of:
-
snowmobiles, with accessories such as sledges, winter clothing and transport
cases;
-
weapons, ammunition, emergency transmitters and signal- pistols;
-
boats, engines, navigation and fishing equipment.
Ingeniør G. Paulsen have a modern garage for maintenance and repair of own and
customers' equipment. The contact person is Ørnulf Vanebo (e-mail:
[email protected]).
More
information
is
available
at
http://www.spitsbergentravel.com/Start/Equipment/
Another company that offers rental of snowmobiles, sledges and other equipments
in the wintertime is Henningsen Transport & Guiding AS. The company also offers
transport with wheel loader within Longyearbyen, a snow groomer with sledges for
heavy cargo transport, heated storage areas in Longyearbyen, as well as other logistic
services on Svalbard. Inquiries can be addressed to: [email protected].
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WP5 / Task 5.4
4. HELICOPTER
Helicopter transportation in Svalbard is carried out by Airlift AS, the current sole
operator of the Governor’s helicopters in Svalbard.
In order to book a helicopter, a prior permission from the Governor of Svalbard is
needed.
The helicopter, a twin engine SA 365 N2 Dauphin, is available on an hourly rate of
NOK 26.000,- . Extra cost / fees in connection with departure, landing and opening of
Svalbard airport outside normal opening hours are charged in addition to the elapsed
total flight time.
The company can not specify the total costs beforehand, as it does not operate with
fixed prices. A normal “start fee” for all departures and arrivals would be less than NKR
600,- and an extra opening of the airport would cost about NKR 2000,-. These extra
costs might vary according to the demand and time of the day, and only a rough
estimate can be given in advance.
Maximum weight/payload for the flight vary, due to distance, the need and
availability of fuel and weather conditions. The maximum payload is 700 kg or 8
passengers with no extra baggage/cargo. There is a possibility of reducing the number
of passengers and converting this reduced weight to necessary cargo or equipment on
the customer’s own choice.
Airlift accepts post payment, either by wire or any other bank transfer.
Some important transport conditions related to helicopter flights in Svalbard are
presented below:
1) All flights have to be accepted by the Governor and require a flight and a landing
permission. These documents have to be carried and shown to the pilot before
boarding the helicopter and must be available during the flight.
2) Before or during the flight, the Governor may at any time cancel the mission and
request the helicopters for their own use.
3) Insurance of loads and equipment is limited to 17 SDR per kg. (1 SDR is about 9
NOK). The company recommends that expensive equipment and materials are
being additionally insured by the client. Upon request, Airlift AS can ensure this
insurance coverage on behalf of the client and at the client's expense.
4) Hazardous goods are transported in accordance with IATA regulations.
5) During underslung cargo operations the aircraft will not carry other persons than
the flight crew.
Contact details:
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WP5 / Task 5.4
Airlift AS
Postboks 459
9171 Longyearbyen
Fax : ( 47) 79 02 14 30
E-mail: [email protected]
5. LOGISTICS SUPPORT
Apart from the companies mentioned above, whose activities are not limited to
transport services only, but also cover other logistic services (such as equipment rental,
cargo transportation, storage space rental), there is also a company named Pole
Position Spitsbergen AS offering logistic support in Svalbard.
The company operates all year round from its offices located at the Port of
Longyearbyen. The company aims to be a single contact point for all logistic needs in
the Arctic, focusing on 3 main areas: Ships agency, Cargo Logistics and Field Logistics.
As port agent, Pole Position handles and coordinates services such as
correspondence between shipowners/operators/management and authorities such as
the Governor of Svalbard, National Coastal Administration, Harbour Master, etc. The
company coordinates provisioning, spare parts, passenger & crew transfers, visa
invitation letters, accommodation, buses, polar bear security, guides, storage and cargo.
Pole Position specializes in cargo logistics, handling all types of cargo and offering
total logistics solutions, such as receiving cargo, storing it in Longyearbyen and
delivering when agreed, to vessels, persons or addresses.
The company is certified to issue shippers declaration for dangerous goods, and is
used to handle scientific and biologic samples with certain need of
speed/temperature/handling. It also delivers a wide range of field logistic services, such
as experienced field guides, transports, tent camps or polar bear security.
Contact information:
Terje Aunevik
POLE POSITION SPITSBERGEN AS
Po Box 514
NO-9171 LONGYEARBYEN
Tel +47 7902 4990
Fax +47 7902 4999
www.pole-position.no www.portlongyear.no
V. CONCLUSIONS
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WP5 / Task 5.4
The analysis of the questionnaire with regards to the available transport
infrastructure leads to a conclusion that in three locations: Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund
and Hornsund, there are sufficient resources of local means of transportation to satisfy
the needs of the SIOS Project participants.
In each of these locations, the SIOS Project partners have declared availability of
small boats enabling research in the surrounding areas during the summer season as
well as snowmobiles enabling mobility and research in the winter and spring season.
The only issue is the fact that each of them makes its means available on different
conditions. Some of them offer their infrastructure on commercial terms, and some other
– under bilateral cooperation agreements.
It would be purposeful to agree unified terms and conditions of access to the
existing infrastructure for all the SIOS Project participants.
Creation of a common database containing information on infrastructure available in
a given period and location would lead to a more effective use of this infrastructure by
the SIOS Project participants and would enable the scientists to plan their activities in
Svalbard in a more efficient way. Such database would be also helpful in view of the fact
that scientific activities in Svalbard often depend on factors difficult to predict, such as
the level of funds obtained or weather conditions prevailing at a given time.
Having in mind that it is very difficult to plan joint activities well is advance,
coordination of these activities and resources by a specially employed person does not
seem to be purposeful. This coordination can be done within the activities of the
planned Knowledge Centre.
Also investing in creation of a new, separate transport infrastructure for the
exclusive use by the SIOS consortium members does not seem to be justified neither
from the financial nor the logistic point of view. Such infrastructure would have to be
maintained in continuous readiness for operation. The cost of equipment and its
maintenance and servicing would be disproportionate to the benefits resulting from its
ownership.
This report contains practical information and contact details concerning private
commercial companies operating in Svalbard, as the analysis of the answers to the
questionnaire testify to a high demand for transportation services and general logistic
support for scientific activities there.
At present scientists use both their own means of transportation as well as the
existing commercial infrastructure provided by private companies. This infrastructure
mainly serves the needs of local economy and tourist traffic, and is used by scientists
only in an insignificant degree and on individual basis.
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WP5 / Task 5.4
Cooperation with private companies is now based on individual orders placed by
individual persons and institutions. It would be purposeful for the SIOS consortium
members to enter into cooperation with private companies as one entity. Such an entity,
comprising a large number of institutions, could be a strategic partner to these
companies and could obtain better terms of use of the existing commercial
infrastructure.
In conclusion, better coordination of activities, closer cooperation, and an improved
flow of information between all SIOS Project partners are necessary. Joining of efforts
and resources under similar activities of different institutions will enable more efficient
use of the means of transportation, which the individual SIOS Project members have at
their disposal.
In addition, centralization and coordination of activities related to cooperation with
commercial enterprises with regards to transportation to and within Svalbard would be
advisable.
Investing in the infrastructure that would enable becoming independent from the
commercial companies does not seem to be necessary. For the purposes of relations
with commercial operators in Svalbard, the SIOS consortium members should rather
make an effort to organize themselves as one entity.
35