Arctic State Information

Canada

Transport Canada Marine Safety Publications (Arctic Specific)

• Arctic Ice Regime Shipping System (AIRSS) Standard: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp12259-menu-605.htm
• Arctic Ice Regime Shipping System – Pictorial Guide: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp14044-menu-4544.html
• User Assistance Package for the Implementation of Arctic ice Regime Shipping System (AIRSS): http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp12819-menu-1338.htm
• Guidelines for Passenger Vessels Operating in the Canadian Arctic: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/guidelines-passenger-vessels-operating-canadian-arctic-tp13670e.html
• Survival in Cold Waters: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp13822-menu-610.htm
• Arctic Waters Oil Transfer Guidelines: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp10783-menu-1292.htm
• How to Meet STCW Requirements for Masters, Deck Officers, and other Crew members of Certain Canadian Ships Operating in Polar Waters, Ship Safety Bulletin 01/2018

Transport Canada Acts and Regulations (Arctic Specific)

• Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-12/
• Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2017-286/index.html
• Shipping Safety Control Zones Order: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._356/index.html
• Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-127/index.html

Other

• Transport Canada Arctic Shipping Website: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-arctic-menu-303.htm
• Canadian Ice Service’s Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/ice-forecasts-observations/latest-conditions.html
• Manual of Ice (MANICE): https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-arctic-menu-303.htm
• Ice Glossary: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/ice-forecasts-observations/latest-conditions/glossary.html
• Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters: http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/folios/00913/docs/ice-navigation-dans-les-galces-eng.pdf
• Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR): https://www.notmar.gc.ca/index-en.php
• Notices to Shipping: https://www.notmar.gc.ca/index-en.php
• Weather, climate and hazards: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather.html
• Aids to Marine Navigation, Canadian Coast Guard (issued seasonally)
• Thirty Day Forecast, Canadian Ice Service
• Understanding and Identifying Old Ice in Summer, National Research Council of Canada
• Winter Navigation on the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence: Practical Notebook for Marine Engineers and Deck Officers (TP 14335)
• Guidelines for Assessing Ice Operational Risk (TP 15383)
• Cold Weather Marine Survival Guide (TP 11690)
• Marine Survival Handbook for Cold Regions (TP 11969)

Kingdom of Denmark

• Relevant information in the form of national and international orders, regulations and guidelines that may help to navigate the Arctic region in a safe manner:
  • https://www.dma.dk/SikkerhedTilSoes/Arktis/SejladsGroenland/Sider/default.aspx
• From the Danish Maritime Institute, this page containes icecharts in Greenland and weather forecasts:
  • https://www.dmi.dk/groenland/
• This page, from the Danish Geodata Agency contains their information on navigation in Greenland
  • http://eng.navigation.gl/
• Contact information:
  • https://www.dmi.dk/gronland/is/kontaktoplysninger/

Polar Ship Certificates:

• Denmark: 2 ships (tanker and AHTS ship)
• Faroe Islands: 1 ship

Iceland

Hyperlink 1: Icelandic Transport Authority
The Icelandic Transport Authority manages the administration of transport affairs and conducts oversight pertaining to aviation, maritime affairs, traffic and safety oversight of transport structures and navigation. The Icelandic Transport Authority issues certificates to seafarares and is responsible for Port State Control and Flag State Control and manages the Icelandic ship registry.

Hyperlink 2: Maritimes Acts and Regulations in English
A list of acts and regulations related to shipping in Icelandic waters from the Icelandic Transport Authority.

Hyperlink 3: Guidelines for masters of cruise and passenger ships arriving in Iceland (2019)
Joint guidelines from the Icelandic Transport Authority, the Icelandic Coast Guard and the Environment Agency of Iceland to:
- ensure that the masters of cruise and passenger ships comply with Icelandic laws and regulations.
- ensure that passenger ship tours and itineraries at sea and on land do not violate nature conservation and environmental laws of Iceland; and to
- to draw the attention of masters of passenger ships to the safety of their vessels and their passengers when visiting Iceland.

Hyperlink 4: The Icelandic Coast Guard
The Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) is a civilian law enforcement agency that is responsible for search and rescue, maritime safety and security surveillance, and law enforcement in the seas surrounding Iceland.

Hyperlink 5: The Environment Agency of Iceland
The Environment Agency operates under the direction of the Ministry for the Environment. It's role is to promote the protection as well as sustainable use of Iceland’s natural resources, as well as public welfare by helping to ensure a healthy environment, and safe consumer goods. The Agency is responsible for implementing the MARPOL convention.

Other links:

• Information on Weather and Sea State:
  • http://www.vegagerdin.is/vs/Content_1016.aspx?la=en
  • http://www.vegagerdin.is/vs/Today.aspx?la=en
  • Contact e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Waves Weather Tides – North Atlantic:
  • http://www.vegagerdin.is/vs/ArealKort.aspx
  • Contact e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Icelandic Met Office:
  • http://en.vedur.is/about-imo/mission/
  • http://en.vedur.is/
  • Contact e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Polar Ship Certificates: 
The Icelandic Transport Authority has not yet issued any Polar Ship Certificates pursuant to the provision of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The reason is that no SOLAS ships are currently registered on the Icelandic Ship Register one Polar Ship Certificate.

Finland

• Certificates of proficiency in training for ships operating in polar waters (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom):
  • https://www.traficom.fi/en/transport/maritime/maritime-certificates-proficiency
    
• Winter navigation in Finland (Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency):
  
  • https://vayla.fi/web/en/merchant-shipping/winter-navigation
    
• Snow and Sea-Ice in the northern hemisphere (Finnish Meteorological Institute):
  
  • https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/arctic-now
    
• Arctic Space Centre of the Finnish Meteorological Institute:
  
  • https://fmiarc.fmi.fi/
    
• Finland as a global leader in icebreaker design, polar shipbuilding, ice technology, and fleet operation (Business Finland):
  
  • https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/do-business-with-finland/explore-finland/maritime/icebreakers-and-ice-going-vessels/
    
• Polar Code Combined Training (Maritime Training Center Aboa Mare):
  
  • https://www.aboamare.fi/polar-code-training
    
• Icebreaker operator and maritime service provider Arctia Ltd.:
  
  • https://www.arctia.fi/en/services/icebreaking/international-icebreaking.html
    
• Finnish Shipowners' Association:
  
  • https://shipowners.fi/en/responsibility/safety/the-polar-code/
    

Polar ship certificates
2 ships: Icebreakers MSV Fennica and MSV Nordica, owned and operated by Arctia Ltd. (Polar Code certified with PC3 notation)

Norway

• Contact persons:
  • Polar Code ( international regulations) Ms. Turid Stemre (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
  • National implementation of the Polar Code: Ms. Bodil Pedersen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
• Implementation of the Polar Code into Norwegian legislations:
  • https://www.sdir.no/en/shipping/legislation/directives/rsr-10-2015/
• Recommendations for operation in polar waters for vessels not carrying a Polar Ship Certificate
  • https://www.sdir.no/en/shipping/legislation/directives/recommendations-for-operation-in-polar-waters-for-vessels-not-carrying-a-polar-ship-certificate
• Information related to Svalbard:
  • Governor of Svalbard: https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/
  • Ban on Heavy Fuel Oil in Svalbard: https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/heavy-fuel-oil-ban-in-the-protected-areas/
    • This page contains information from the Governor of Svalbard on the ban of heavy fuel oil. It is banned to use and/or carry it in specific waters around Svalbard.
  • Regulations on the construction, equipment and operation of passenger ships in the territorial waters surrounding Svalbard
    • Circular about the regulations
    • Regulations - full text
    • Rules for passenger ships in Svalbard
• Link to the reports from SARex excersices:
  • 2016: https://uis.brage.unit.no/uis-xmlui/handle/11250/2414815
  • 2017: https://uis.brage.unit.no/uis-xmlui/handle/11250/2468805
  • 2018: https://uis.brage.unit.no/uis-xmlui/handle/11250/2578301
• Other information:
  • Norwegian Coastal Administration website: http://www.kystverket.no/en
  • Norwegian rescue services: https://www.hovedredningssentralen.no/english/
  • Search and rescue in the Norwegian area of responsibility: https://www.barentswatch.no/en/articles/Search-and-rescue-in-the-Norwegian-area-of-responsibility/
  • BarentsWatch: https://www.barentswatch.no/en/
  • Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Sea and High North areas: https://www.met.no/en/Sea-and-High-North-areas
  • Norwegian Mapping Authority website: https://www.kartverket.no/en

Other information:

• Norwegian Coastal Administration website: http://www.kystverket.no/en
• Search and rescue in the Norwegian area of responsibility: https://www.barentswatch.no/en/articles/Search-and-rescue-in-the-Norwegian-area-of-responsibility/
• Norwegian rescue services: https://www.hovedredningssentralen.no/english/
• BarentsWatch: https://www.barentswatch.no/en/
• Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Sea and High North areas: https://www.met.no/en/Sea-and-High-North-areas
• Governor of Svalbard: https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/
• Specific rules for passenger vessels operating in Svalbard:
  https://www.sdir.no/en/shipping/vessels/vessel-types/passenger-vessels/rules-for-passenger-ships-on-svalbard/

Sweden

• Contact details for ship certificates: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• General contact details to the Swedish Transport Agency: https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/contact-us/
• General link to shipping: https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/en/shipping/
• Sweden has extensive involvement in Baltic shipping. We suggest looking at this link of the Swedish Maritime Administration which may have helpful guidance for ice operations that my be relevant to Arctic operations.
  • http://www.sjofartsverket.se/en/Maritime-services/Winter-Navigation/Winter-Navigation/

Polar Ship Certificates

As of August 19 2019, the Swedish Transport Agency, under the authority of the Government of Sweden, has issued one Polar Ship Certificate under the provision of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, and another two has been issued by classification societies, through delegation from the Swedish Transport Agency.

• Name of vessel: Freya av Skattegården*
  • Port of registry: Göteborg (Gothenburg)
  • IMO number: 7912020
  • Shipowner: Skattegården Hangelösa AB
  • Call sign: SCDI
  • Gross tonnage: 674
  • Ship type: Other
    * Previously: Freya af Göteborg
• Name of vessel: Bonito, (SFNG)
  • IMO-no: 9255270
  • Gross tonnage 15980
  • Ship type: Tanker for chemicals & oil products
  • Ice class (1A*)
• Name of vessel: Oden, (SMLQ)
  • IMO-no 8700876
  • Gross tonnage 9605
  • Ship type: Ice-Breaker
  • Solas-II-2

Russian Federation

• Rules of navigation in the water area of Northern Sea Route
•  The Russian Federal Law of Shipping in the Water Area of the Northern Sea Route
• Application for Admission and Enclosure to navigate in the Northern Sea Route Area
• Information about icebreaker assistance and ice pilotage
• Navigational and weather information
• Search and rescue, Prevention of pollution by oil, and;
• Contact information

The Baltic Icebreaking Management - Training and Courses 
This website contains information on ice navigation course providers, schedules and course program, and ice training movies.

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Russia
This website contains generalized maps of the ice conditions of the Arctic Ocean, and other ice information (in Russian).

Polar Ship Certificates

As at the end 2020, on behalf of the Russian Maritime Administration, namely the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (hereinafter - RS) has been issued 118 Polar Ship Certificates for ships under the flag of the Russian Federation and ships to the RS class with total gross tonnage 1059607.

They are:

• 21 Certificates has been issued for Category A ships (GT 162380)
• 70 Certificates - for Category B ships (GT 152241)
• 24 Certificates - for Category C ships (GT 79618)

The type of ships, for which have been issued the Polar Ship Certificates are

• General cargo ships (23)
• Oil tankers (20)
• Passenger ships (4)
• Icebreakers (7)
• Salvage/tug-salvage ships (7)
• Supply ships (7)
• Research ships (12)
• Fish-transport ships (3)

The ships, for which has been issued the Polar Ship Certificates, have different ice classes of RS, which is equivalent to Category A, B and C ships as its defined by Polar Code and which are operated in polar waters.

Ships, which have not ice class or ice strengthening, have been issued the Polar Ship Certificates as for Category C ships with the relevant restriction of navigation (open water or separate ice).

United States of America

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • IceBridge Sea Ice Freeboard, Snow Depth, and Thickness Quick Look
  • IceSat-2 (The Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2, or ICESat-2, measures the height of a changing Earth – one laser pulse at a time, 10,00 laser pulses a second. It allows scientists to measure the elevation of ice sheets and sea ice in unprecedented detail. ICESAT-2 applications are available here)
  • MODIS (The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, is deployed on two satellites that orbit the Earth every 1 to 2 days acquiring data in 36 spectral bands, or groups of wavelengths These data improve our understanding of global dynamics and processes occurring on the land, in the oceans, and in the lower atmosphere.
  • GMAO (The Global Modeling and Assimilation Office uses computer models and data assimilation to enhance NASA’s program of Earth Observations. The website This web site includes five major themes: "Weather Analysis and Prediction," "Seasonal-Decadal Analysis and Prediction," "Reanalysis," "Global Mesoscale Modeling," and "Observing System Science”)
  • NISAR (the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, or NISAR, satellite provides an unprecedented, detailed view of Earth. It is designed to observe and take measurements of some of the planet’s most complex processes, including ice-sheet collapse and natural hazards such as tsunamis and landslides. NISAR applications are available here)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • U.S. Arctic Voyage Planning Guide (the Guide is a compilation of official U.S. Government information and references to sources of information that may be consulted by mariners when planning a voyage into or through U.S. Arctic waters. It is not a navigation tool itself, but is a compilation of materials to give mariners a consolidated picture of conditions, regulations, navigation guidance and unique circumstances that should be considered during voyage planning)
  • NOAA Chart Locator (download nautical charts and ENCs)
  • NOAA Nautical Chart Online Viewer
  • U.S. Coast Pilot (a series of nautical books that cover a variety of information important to navigators of coastal and intracoastal waters and the Great Lakes. Issued in nine volumes, they contain supplemental information that is difficult to portray on a nautical chart)
  • NOAA Wrecks and Obstructions Database
  • National Center for Environmental Intelligence Arctic Datasets
  • NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Lab Arctic Zone compilation of hyperlinks to products and services such as:
    • Arctic Report Card (latest annual update of changing conditions
    • Monthly Sea Ice Outlook (from SEARCH/Arcus)
    • NASA IceBridge Sea Ice Freeboard, Snow Depth, and Thickness Quick Look
    • Arctic Daily Sea Ice Images
    • MAISIE - Daily Sea Ice Extent product
    • North Pole Real Time Weather Data
  • Arctic Geophysics and Bathymetry
  • Alaska Tides and Currents
  • Alaska Tide Predictions
  • Endangered Species and Critical Habitat Mapper (mapping application that provides approximate distributions for species protected by the US under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act)

• U.S. National Ice Center/Naval Ice Center (NATICE)
  • U.S. NATICE Home Page (provides global to tactical scale ice and snow products, ice forecasting, and other environmental intelligence services for the United States government)
  • Current Daily Ice Analysis
  • Snow and Ice Data
  • Oceans and Sea Ice

• North American Ice Service
  • North American Ice Service Products (The North American Ice Service provides year-round maritime safety information on iceberg and sea ice conditions in the vicinity of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and the east coast of Labrador, Canada. The purpose of the NAIS Iceberg Bulletin and Chart is to advise mariners of the estimated iceberg extent within the region)

• U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  • Sailing Direction Planning Guides (including Arctic Ocean, 12 Ed. 2017) (includes relevant physical, political, industrial, navigational and regulatory information about the countries adjacent to a particular ocean basin in a single volume)
  • Sailing Directions Enroute (includes detailed coastal and port approach information, supplementing the largest scale chart of the area. Each publication is subdivided into geographic regions, called sectors, which contain information about the coastal weather, currents, ice, dangers, features and ports, as well as graphic keys to standard nautical charts available for the area)
  • HYDROARC Reports (contain details about maritime hazards to surface ships and submarines in the international waters of the Arctic Ocean and adjacent northern seas. Any person who physically collects data, or has an interest in data collected in the Arctic region should refer to these reports)

• U.S. Committee on the Maritime Transportation System
  • U.S. Arctic Marine Transportation Integrated Action Team

• State of Alaska
  • Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Spill Prevention and Response
    • Potential Places of Refuge for Alaska
    • Aleutian Islands - Potential Places of Refuge
    • Western Alaska - Potential Places of Refuge
    • Northwest Arctic - Potential Places of Refuge
    • North Slope - Potential Places of Refuge

• Marine Exchange of Alaska (MXAK)
  • MXAK is a nonprofit maritime organization that provides to its members information that aids safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sound maritime operations in waters around Alaska. MXAK operates a vessel tracking network composed of over 140 AIS and marine safety stations in Alaska

• Polar Ship Certificates: USA has to date issued four certificates:

(last updated 26 January 2021)