Alaska Maritime Prevention & Response Network (Alaska Network)

The Alaska Network is a non-profit organization governed by industry representatives and funded by participating vessel owner/operators that provides vessels operating in Western Alaska and the U.S. Arctic with best management practices and response capabilities.  The Network has over 450 vessel companies from around the world representing over 3,500 vessels enrolled in its programs.

The Alaska Network has adopted voluntary routing measures for cargo, passenger vessels and yachts as well as for fishing, towing and supply vessels. It has information on equipment, response vessels, response hubs, and research and development. Conformance with these routing measures results in vessels operating further off shore. In addition, participating vessels are monitored 24/7 while in the U.S. Arctic. This allows for prompt notification of propulsion or navigation issues that require prompt attention to reduce the likelihood of a grounding and pollution event. Decisions related to Ports of Refuge are managed pursuant to Annex O of the Federal / State of Alaska Unified Response Plan.  For information on enrolling in the Alaska Network and to learn more about risk reducing routing measures in the U.S. Arctic click here.

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)

Hyperlink: Eagle.org

ABS is a leading international classification organization devoted to promoting the security of life and property and preserving the natural environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine and offshore assets.

A critical element of voyage planning is having access to details of the historical temporal environmental conditions in the planned area of operation that may influence the risk associated with operations, including low temperature, the presence of sea ice as it relates to the capability of the ship structure and propulsion train to interact with the ice, the possibility of ice accretion specifically with respect to the presence of environment conditions that facilitate ice accretion and the amount of daylight.  ABS Advisory Services offers a climate assessment which included:

• Detailed temperature analysis following the Polar Code’s MDLT. An example of this can be found in Appendix 10 of the ABS Guide for Vessels Operating in Low Temperature Environments (LTE Guide).
• Sea ice analysis using the POLARIS system (MSC.1/Circ.1519). The basis of POLARIS is an evaluation of the risks posed to the ship by ice conditions using the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) nomenclature and the ship’s assigned ice class (or lack thereof). POLARIS can be used for voyage planning or on-board decision-making in real time on the bridge although, as with any methodology, it is not intended to replace an experienced Master’s judgement. POLARIS assesses ice conditions based on a Risk Index Outcome (RIO) determined by the following simple calculation:

The Risk Values (RV) are a function of ice class, season of operation, and operational state (i.e., independent operation or icebreaker escort). Risk levels are higher with increasing ice thickness and decreasing ice class. POLARIS establishes RVs for the seven (7) IACS Polar Classes, four (4) Finnish-Swedish Ice Classes, and non-ice strengthened ships. For an example a non-ice strengthened, Category C ship, only the bottom row of risk values need to be considered. The row corresponding to the subject vessels will be the bottom row for non-ice strengthened vessels.

ABS-POLARIS is a tool developed by ABS to processes raw ice chart data (sourced from various ice data providers including the Canadian Ice Service, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Danish Meteorological Institute, the Russian Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, etc, using the IMO POLARIS methodology. ABS-POLARIS will determine Risk Index Outcomes and replot ice charts as ice risk charts that are specific to the ship’s ice class notation. The tool can process and plot a single ice chart as an Ice Risk Index Outcome (RIO) chart or process multiple ice charts to evaluate statistical values of RIOs. For example, the ABS-POLARIS tool can take five (5) years of ice charts for a region covering the first week of a month and produce an average RIO for the region.  This can be used to evaluate operational probabilities in the given area, or to evaluate the likelihood of the ship encountering ice conditions that exceed its capabilities in that time period.  Alternatively, the tool can be used as a means of optimizing the ice class selection if an operational area and time frame is known. Striving for Safer Polar Shipping.

ABS recommends using a multi-year average of RIOs. The ABS-POLARIS averaging algorithm only accounts for areas where ice is present in the average. The figure below graphically shows how the program stacks and calculates the average.  If a location only has ice present for a single year the program will only use the year with data in the average. This means that the only ice chart with ice will be the ice shown in the final output. For example, the lower points in the figure where the presence of ice is indicated with a star and circles indicate ice free area. For this five (5) year average the figure will show the RIO from the only year with ice in the area.  This results in a slightly conservative ice analysis.

Further examples of the ABS-Polaris outputs can be seen in Figures 12 and 13 of the ABS IMO Polar Code Advisory.

There are aspects of Chapter 11 that can be overlooked by someone developing a Polar Water Operational Manual (PWOM). Most of the regulations of this chapter are not mandatory to be included in the PWOM but ABS suggests that the manual either contain the information required by the regulations of this chapter or make reference to where the crew can access this information.

AMATII

Hyperlink: www.arcticinfrastructure.org
The Arctic Council's Sustainable Development Working Group approved a project during the Swedish Chairmanship (co-led by the United States and Iceland) to assess transportation infrastructure. The Arctic Marine and Aviation Transportation Infrastructure Initiative (AMATII) seek to evaluate Northern infrastructure ports, airports, and response capability by inventorying maritime and aviation assets in the Arctic.

Bering Sea Elders Group

Hyperlink: http://eloka-arctic.org/communities/elders

The link submitted is the electronic version of "The Northern Bering Sea: Our Way of Life", published by the Bering Sea Elders Group an alliance of thirty-nine Yup’ik and Inupiaq villages that seeks to protect the sensitive ecosystem of the Bering Sea, the subsistence lifestyle, and the sustainable communities that depend on it. The Northern Bering Sea: Our Way of Life highlights large hunting and fishing areas, and the ecological importance of the region.

The maps and information contained in the submission provide valuable information on locations and timing of marine mammal concentrations and marine mammal migratory routes. Information is also provided on locations and timing of subsistence hunting of marine mammals, an important cultural practice for the region.

Canadian Hydrographic Service

Hyperlink 1: http://iho.int/srv1/index.php?lang=en
A principal Aim of the IHO is to ensure that all the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted. The Mission of the IHO is to create a global environment in which States provide adequate and timely hydrographic data, products and services and ensure their widest possible use. The Vision of the IHO is to be the authoritative worldwide hydrographic body which actively engages all coastal and interested States to advance maritime safety and efficiency and which supports the protection and sustainable use of the marine environment.

Hyperlink 2: Canadian Hydrographic Service / Organization or Service: Arctic Voyage Planning Guide - Canada
http://geoportal.gc.ca/eng/Gallery/MapProfile/5 or http://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/97183f5e-1b0b-4700-a3c0-534a5efdfd24
A compilation of data and services relevant to mariners travelling in the Arctic region of Canada. The AVPG is not intended to replace official carriage information or products provided from Canadian sources. In case of disparity, the information contained in official publications will prevail. The mariners remain responsible for navigational decisions and safety of their ships. The information provided in this guide should be used together with all other relevant information, as required by law, standards and good seamanship practices.

Hyperlink 3: Canadian Hydrographic Service / Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission
http://iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=435&Itemid=690&lang=en
The IHO has encouraged the establishment of Regional Hydrographic Commissions (RHCs) to coordinate hydrographic activity and cooperation at the regional level. The RHCs are made up of IHO Member States together with other regional States that wish to participate. RHCs work in close harmony with the Organization to help further its ideals and program. RHCs meet at regular intervals to discuss such things as mutual hydrographic and chart production problems, plan joint survey operations, and resolve schemes for medium and large scale International Chart coverage in their regions.

Hyperlink 4: Canadian Hydrographic Service
http://www.charts.gc.ca/
The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) is the hydrographic office of Canada. All vessels in Canadian waters must carry and use nautical charts and related publications pursuant to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations, that are issued by, or on the authority of, the Canadian Hydrographic Service.

Hyperlink 5: Canadian Hydrographic Service / Northern Canada Sailing Directions
http://www.charts.gc.ca/publications/sailingdirections-instructionsnautiques-eng.asp
Canadian Sailing Directions are companions to nautical charts. Sailing Directions is a great tool for planning and assisting in navigation because they provide information that cannot be shown on a chart.

Hyperlink 6: Canadian Hydrographic Service / Canadian Ice Service
http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/
The Canadian Ice Service's mission is to provide the most timely and accurate information about ice in Canada's navigable waters. We work to promote safe and efficient maritime operations and to help protect Canada's environment.

Hyperlink 7: Canadian Hydrographic Service / Canadian Tide Tables Vol. 4 – Arctic and Hudson Bay.
http://www.tides.gc.ca/eng/data/predictions/2017#vol4
Volume 4 of the CHS Tide tables provides tidal information for CA Arctic waters.

Canadian Hydrographic Service website

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Secretariat

Hyperlink: https://www.ccamlr.org/en/data/online-gis
The site provides broad scale information on the whole Antarctic Area including daily sea ice concentrations, polar front positions, and a range of management area information from fishing management units to marine protected areas and vulnerable marine ecosystems. Data can be layered onto an Antarctic wide map or viewed layer by layer. As well as the latest extent of sea-ice, it is possible to search for place names and zoom to specific areas.

CCAMLR website

Danish Geodata Agency

Hyperlink:  http://eng.navigation.gl/
Navigation.gl is a portal for use by mariners who are not familiar with navigation in arctic waters, especially the waters surrounding Greenland. Mariners intending to navigate in the waters surrounding Greenland can use the portal to obtain an overview of the websites of relevant authorities and institutions that provide information about safe navigation in these waters. The navigation.gl portal is developed in collaboration between Danish and Greenland authorities. The portal primarily features links to the websites of the Danish Maritime Authority, The Danish Geodata Agency and the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).

Danish Geodata Agency

International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)

Hyperlink: Guidelines for the Development of a Polar Water Operational Manual

The International Chamber for Shipping (ICS) and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) jointly published this document in 2019. ICS and OCIMF members consider that how a ship is operated in Polar waters, and especially in ice, is a critical aspect for safe operations. The quality of the PWOM will have an impact on achieving safe operations. This document suplements the Polar Code and its Appendix II, which provides a model for a PWOM. The document states that while Appendix II is a useful starting point, ICS and OCIMF members have found that additional information is needed to develop a quality PWOM.

International Hydrographic Organization

Hyperlink 1: http://iho.int/srv1/index.php?lang=en
A principal Aim of the IHO is to ensure that all the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted. The Mission of the IHO is to create a global environment in which States provide adequate and timely hydrographic data, products and services and ensure their widest possible use. The Vision of the IHO is to be the authoritative worldwide hydrographic body which actively engages all coastal and interested States to advance maritime safety and efficiency and which supports the protection and sustainable use of the marine environment.

Hyperlink 2: https://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=435&Itemid=690&lang=en
The IHO has encouraged the establishment of Regional Hydrographic Commissions (RHCs) to coordinate hydrographic activity and cooperation at the regional level. The RHCs are made up of IHO Member States together with other regional States that wish to participate. RHCs work in close harmony with the Organization to help further its ideals and program. RHCs meet at regular intervals to discuss such things as mutual hydrographic and chart production problems, plan joint survey operations, and resolve schemes for medium and large scale International Chart coverage in their regions.

IHO website

International Ice Charting Working Group

Hyperlink: http://nsidc.org/noaa/iicwg/
For Arctic shipping, the website of the International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG) most importantly provides contact information for all of the national ice services in the world, including 24/7 emergency access to ice information. Additionally, the site provides information about IICWG activities, summaries and presentations from annual IICWG meetings, documents on standards, and links to other ice information sites.

IICWG website

International Ice Patrol

Hyperlink: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=IIPHome
The website of the International Ice Patrol (IIP) is hosted by the United States Coast Guard Navigation Center. The site provides the daily Iceberg Limit to 60°N as a graphical chart, a text bulletin, a KML or a shape file. The graphical chart also contains iceberg distribution estimates. The Iceberg Limit is established by the Canadian Ice Service (CIS) from September through January and by IIP from February through August. A weekly iceberg outlook for the Grand Banks of Newfoundland along with background information describing the IIP’s mission and history are also available on this site. Together with the CIS and the US National Ice Center (USNIC), IIP is a member of the North American Ice Service. The IIP site contains links to CIS and the USNIC.

International Ice Patrol website

Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University

 Hyperlink: http://www.paninuittrails.org/index.html?module=module.paninuittrails Chapter 11 voyage planning: The Atlas is one of the outcomes of the project “The Northwest Passage and the construction of Inuit pan-Arctic identities” (funded by SSHRC—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), and co-directed by Claudio Aporta (Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University), Michael Bravo (Geography, University of Cambridge), and Fraser Taylor (Geomatics and Cartographic Research Centre, Carleton University). This project looks at Inuit occupancy of the Northwest Passage, through a study and documentation of Inuit traditional trails and place names, which have interconnected Inuit groups across the Arctic since time immemorial.

Marine Affairs website

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Hyperlink:  https://arctic-nga.opendata.arcgis.com/
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Arctic Support Web map provides public access to nautical information products relevant for the Polar Code including Arctic charts and sailing directions. These standard nautical products address sections 9.2.1 of Chapter 9: Safety of Navigation and 11.3 of Chapter 11: Voyage Planning. The Web map also provides relevant Arctic spatial data for download such as elevation, sea ice extents, airfields, and search and rescue zones. Many other hydrographic and broader maritime domain data sets and resources are provided as Web services.

NGA website

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Hyperlink 1:  http://www.natice.noaa.gov/
The USNIC Daily Ice Edge product depicts the daily sea ice pack (8-10/10ths or greater of sea ice), and the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ). The marginal ice zone is the transition between the open ocean (ice free) and pack ice. The MIZ is very dynamic and affects the air-ocean heat transport, as well as being a significant factor in navigational safety. The daily ice edge is analyzed by sea ice experts using multiple sources of near real time satellite data, derived satellite products, buoy data, weather, and analyst interpretation of current sea ice conditions. The product is a current depiction of the location of the ice edge vice a satellite derived ice edge product.

Hyperlink 2:  https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/index.html
The United States Coast Pilot® consists of 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. Coast Pilot 9 - 35th Edition, 2017 covers the Pacific and Arctic coasts of Alaska from Cape Spencer to the Beaufort Sea.

Hyperlink 3: https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey is the nation’s chartmaker, with over a thousand charts covering 95,000 miles of shoreline and 3.4 million square nautical miles of waters within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

Hyperlink 4: https://cetsound.noaa.gov/biologically-important-area-map
Chapter 11 of the Polar Code calls for mariners to take into account marine mammals when planning voyages, and to avoid harm as much as possible when transiting in polar environments. In 2011, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) convened a working group to map cetacean density and distribution within U.S. waters.The specific objective of the Cetacean Density and Distribution Mapping Working Group (CetMap) was to create comprehensive and easily accessible regional cetacean density and distribution maps that are time- and species-specific, ideally using survey data and models, that estimate density using predictive environmental factors.

Hyperlink 5: https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/arctic-zone/data.html

• Realtime Data and Climate Indices
  • Data and Analyses
  • Indices
  • Weather
• Retrospective or Historical Data, Analyses and Indices
  • Data and Analyses
• • Indices

NOAA website 

Norwegian Polar Institute

Hyperlink: http://geodata.npolar.no/barentsportal/?&extent=-1051920,6930390,2322054,9271428&layers=layer6:340
Chapter 11 of the Polar Code calls for mariners to take into account marine mammals when planning voyages, and to avoid harm as much as possible when transiting in polar environments. The Norwegian Polar Institute's Barents Portal provides mariner's with environmental information to ensure as little impact to the marine environment as possible.

Nunavut Planning Commission

Hyperlink: http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=5ceec85326374c9b9b56e935477a7e80&extent=-180,35.3976,180,87.2166
The Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan is a product of extensive consultations that included visiting all 25 Nunavut communities at least twice. After listening to the residents of Nunavut, governments, industry stakeholders and other interested parties including the Dene residents from Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Inuit from Northern Quebec, the Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan provides clear guidance that directs resource use and development in the Nunavut Settlement Area. The Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan provides for protection of Caribou calving and post-calving grounds and critical bird habitat; identifies traditional on ice travel routes with special management tools to protect them, areas of mineral potential, as well as areas with potential for tourism activities. The Draft Plan also provides Nunavummiut a voice in determining the future of development in the Nunavut Settlement Area at the land use planning level.

NSIDC website

Nautical Institute

Hyperlink: https://www.nautinst.org/en/forums/ice/articles-in-seaways/ice-navigator.cfm
This page contains articles which explain the application of the Polar Code with respect to training - Chapter 12 and the obligations and expectations on mariners and their employers. They identify the constructs of the International Standard for Ice Navigators created by the leading professional body for those navigating ships - The Nautical Institute and provide other useful background reading. The articles embody best practice in the consideration of training and qualifications for the area.

Nautical Institute website

Oceans North Canada

Hyperlink: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/assets/2016/04/the-integrated-arctic-corridors-framework-graphics-and-maps.pdf
Reducing impact from shipping on Inuit use and ecologically significant areas in the Canadian Arctic is the intent behind chapter 11 (voyage planning) of the Polar Code. The Oceans North Integrated Arctic Corridors Framework describes route planning which would lead to low impact shipping in this region.

Oceans North Canada website

Oil Companies International Marine Forum

Hyperlink 1: Guidelines for the Development of a Polar Water Operational Manual

Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the International Chamber for Shipping (ICS) and the jointly published this document in 2019. ICS and OCIMF members consider that how a ship is operated in Polar waters, and especially in ice, is a critical aspect for safe operations. The quality of the PWOM will have an impact on achieving safe operations. This document suplements the Polar Code and its Appendix II, which provides a model for a PWOM. The document states that while Appendix II is a useful starting point, ICS and OCIMF members have found that additional information is needed to develop a quality PWOM.

Hyperlink 2:  Northern Sea Route – Best practices and Challenges (2017)

Hyperlink 3: Offshore Vessel Operations In Ice and or Severe Sub Zero Temperatures in Artic and Sub Artic regions (2014).
The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance to operators and charterers of offshore support vessels employed for use in areas impacted by ice or severe sub-zero temperatures with the aim of encouraging high standards of safety and environmental protection for those operating in Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions.

Polar View

Hyperlink: http://www.polarview.aq/
The Polar View data page is operated by the British Antarctic Survey with European Space Agency support. This site provides freely available satellite data and automated ice information products for both polar regions. It is highly utilized by mariners in the Southern Ocean, in particular, where there is a current lack of regular ice information from national services.

Swedish Transport Agency

Hyperlink 1: http://www.aari.ru/odata/_d0015.php?lang=1&mod=0
For ice types Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) has current and historical maps of ice types (and coverage) in the Arctic.

Hyperlink 2: https://seaice.uni-bremen.de/sea-ice-concentration/
For historical data on ice coverage, the University of Bremen has a useful site with current and historical data based on passive microwave data (AMSR2). It should be noted that the ice coverage indicated in the maps as “blue” (in false colour) is ice-coverage up to 10%. In a local area, there may be large ice floes, where the coverage can be up to 100%, as well as spots with less than 10% total coverage. It should also be noted that anecdotal evidence suggest that ice coverage is on the conservative side and that ice cover has been found to be more extensive in real operation that indicated on the map of the day.

Hyperlink 3: http://polarportal.dk/en/sea-ice-and-icebergs/sea-ice-thickness-and-volume/
The Polar Portal operated by the Danish Research Institutions provide guidance of ice-thickness in the Arctic.

Hyperlink 4: http://nsidc.org/soac/sea-ice-age-year.html
For historical ice age data, the National Snow and Ice Data Centre operates a useful site where different years and seasons can be compared.

Hyperlink 5: https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov
For visual historical observations of ice conditions, Nasa’s Worldview can be sued to select a particular area and time. The webbsite provides a good visual verification if the selected day had limited cloud cover. Ice conditions can be compared to other times/years on the same location. The Polar Portal operated by the Danish Research Institutions provide guidance of ice-thickness in the Arctic.

Swedish Transport Agency website

USCG Maritime Information Exchange

Hyperlink: https://cgmix.uscg.mil/MARPOL/Default.aspx
The purpose of the Coast Guard Maritime Information Exchange (CGMIX) website is to make Coast Guard maritime information available on the public internet in the form of searchable databases. For Ships Operating in the US Arctic and Near Arctic the CGMIX Public Database includes a link to MARPOL Servicing Facilities.

This online searchable database contains a listing of all U.S. Ports and Terminals holding valid MARPOL Certificates of Adequacy (COAs). Ships operating in the Arctic are subject to additional restrictions relating to discharges of Annex I Oil/Oily residue, Annex II Noxious Liquid Substances, Annex V Garbage including food waste, and Annex VI Ozone Depleting Substances and Stack Scrubber residues. U.S. Ports and Terminals are issued Certificates of Adequacy (COAs) as evidence that their facilities meet the requirements of Annexes I, II, and V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

Adequate port reception facilities (PRF) at Arctic and near Arctic ports and terminals are meant to ensure ships can comply with enhanced restrictions on discharges from ships to the sea outlined in the Polar Code. US MARPOL regulations are further detailed in 33 CFR Part158. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2001-title33-vol2/pdf/CFR-2001-title33-vol2-part158.pdf

Additional resources include: -The World Port Index published by the (US) National Geospatial Agency which provides Marine Safety Information on ports and terminals around the world. This publication gives the location, characteristics, known facilities, and available services of a great many ports and shipping facilities and oil terminals throughout the world and can be downloaded as a PDF document. The data is arranged geographically and is keyed to the applicable Volume of the Sailing Directions and shown on a chart. https://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/WPI/Pub150bk.pdf.

The IMO's Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) which includes databases on pollution prevention equipment for ships and MARPOL port reception facilities. The public, searchable databases are arranged by Member States (including all eight Arctic Council states) and provide contact information for ports and terminals including those in Arctic regions. Information on ships waste management in the form of IMO Guidance can be downloaded from the website for ships and PRF operators. The guidance while not specific to Arctic shipping will be useful for ship operators planning on voyaging in Arctic or near Arctic waters. (MEPC.1/Circ.834.Rev.1) in English, French and Spanish. GISIS Data Base: https://gisis.imo.org/Public/Default.aspx

Guidance (Free Download from the GISIS site): https://gisis.imo.org/Public/Shared/Public/Download.aspx?FileType=UnsecuredFile&FileCode=PRF-GUIDE

World Meteorological Organization Technical Commission on Oceanography and marine meteorology (JCOMM)

Hyperlink 1: http://www.jcomm.info/
The JCOMM website provides access to global information about sea ice and icebergs, waves and coastal hazards, ocean forecasting, and maritime safety services. Information includes standards for observation, reporting and coding such as international ice terminology, chart symbology, and ice hazard warnings. Knowledge of these standards is essential for polar mariners to interpret ice information for voyage planning and navigation in and near ice. Additionally, the website contains current weather forecasts and warnings, ice hazard warnings and maritime coastal advisories issued by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services through the World Meteorological Information System and generally available on NAVTEX and the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS).

Updates: Standards information is updated periodically. Current forecast and warning information is updated at least daily.

World Meterological Institute

Hyperlink 1: https://public.wmo.int
WMO provides information for integrating weather, climate and hydrological data, environmental information and weather-climate predictive tools in the Arctic region, for example through its World Weather Watch (WWW), the Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme (MMOP), the Global Cryosphere Watch and other components of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) as well as its World Climate and Weather Research Programmes (WCRP and WWRP). This is the general link to the WMO's public website.

Hyperlink 2: http://wcrp-climate.org
For longer timescales the World Climate Research Programme (a cosponsored organisation of WMO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the International Council for Science) provides the science underpinning changes in the climate worldwide, including the Arctic.

Hyperlink 3: http://www.climate-cryosphere.org/wcrp/pcpi
The Polar Climate Predictability Initiative (PCPI) is an initiative of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), whose goal is to improve the understanding of the predictability of climate and the effect of human activities on climate. The PCPI has a focus on polar regions and their role in the global climate system, and aims to improve predictability of the climate system on all time scales by improving our understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms and their representation in climate models.

Hyperlink 4: http://www.polarprediction.net
WMO is coordinating a Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP), starting in 2017, which will include a host of observing, modelling and educational activities. YOPP has the overarching goal to significantly improve our environmental prediction capabilities for the polar regions and beyond, on time scales from hours to seasons. Because of various teleconnections the poles influence weather and climate conditions in lower latitudes where hundreds of millions of people live. YOPP is intended to evaluate the improvement of weather and climate prediction worldwide with improved polar observational network. The connection to longer time scales is made through the World Climate Research Programme’s Polar Climate Predictability Initiative. The core period of YOPP entails intensive observation and modelling campaigns in both the Arctic and the Antarctic, scheduled from mid-2017 to mid-2019.

Hyperlink 5: http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewGroupRecord&groupID=114&I
The Expert Team on Sea-Ice of the Joint WMO -IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology provides for coordination, guidance, and proposals on relevant technical regulations and standards to WMO and IOC on maters related to marine meteorological services in polar regions.

Hyperlink 6: http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135&Itemid=37
The Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) provides coordination, guidance, and proposes technical regulations and standards to WMO and IOC on aspects related to forecasting marine coastal hazards, including in polar regions.

Hyperlink 7: https://library.wmo.int/pmb_ged/wmo_558_en-v1.pdf
The WMO Manual on Marine Meteorological Services, WMO No. 558, provides for WMO Technical Regulations and standard practices related to marine meteorological services, including sea-ice services, support to marine transportation, and prevention and mitigation of marine hazards.

Hyperlink 8: https://library.wmo.int/opac/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=7469
Guide to Marine Meteorological Services, WMO No. 471 provides for guidance to WMO Members in accordance to WMO Technical Regulations and Standard Procedures and Practices (WMO No. 558) related to marine meteorological services, including sea-ice services, support to marine transportation, and prevention and mitigation of marine hazards.

Hyperlink 9: http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_oe&task=viewDocumentRecord&docID=9607
The Sea Ice Information Services in the World (WMO-No.574) is intended to provide to mariners and other users information on best practices in sea ice services available world-wide and by this formally extending the WMO publications No.9, Volume D - information for Shipping and No.558 - Manual on Marine Meteorological Services (WMO-No.558).

Hyperlink 10: http://weather.gmdss.org
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) website displays the marine forecast and warning products that are provided to mariners via SafetyNet and Navtex, as part of the Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service (WWMIWS), within the framework of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). The worlds' oceans have been divided into 21 areas, called MetArea's, for the provision of marine products to shipping. The products displayed are issued by the National Meteorological Services (NMS) appointed as WWMIWS Issuing Services. METAREA Coordinators are assigned to coordinate provision of the marine services for each area. View the MetArea Coordinator contact list.

Hyperlink 11: http://www.jcomm.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=281&Itemid=37
Marine Pollution Emergency Response Support System (MPERSS) primary objective is to have in place a coordinated, global system for the provision of meteorological and oceanographic information for marine pollution emergency response operations outside waters under national jurisdiction. The areas covered have the same geographical distribution than those for the GMDSS, and Area Meteorological Coordinators have been identified for all of them.

Hyperlink 12: https://nsidc.org/noaa/iicwg
The International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG) is a working group of the world’s national ice services to promote coordination of operational sea ice and iceberg information services to better meet the needs of their national and international maritime clients. Through collaboration and cooperation in data sharing, standards, training, product development, research activities, and the delivery of information services, the IICWG aims to enhance the safety of maritime operations in ice-covered waters.

Hyperlink 13: https://public.wmo.int/en/programmes/world-weather-research-programme
WMO's World Weather Research Programme advances society's ability to cope with high impact weather through research focused on improving the accuracy, lead time and utilization of weather prediction. It has several activities focussed on the Arctic region, including the Year of Polar Prediction (http://www.polarprediction.net).

WMO website

World Wildlife Fund

Hyperlink 1: http://awsassets.wwf.ca/downloads/hudsonstraitmarinersguide_2.pdf?_ga=2.224626205.640108791.1510171305-2063225585.1506616454 Chapter 11 of the Polar Code calls for voyage planning that results in the least amount of impact on marine mammals in the Arctic. The Hudson Strait Mariner’s Guide is designed to assist with this provisions. The Guide is made up of two large posters to be hung on the ship’s bridge: a chart that will help mariner’s identify whales, seals, polar bears and walrus, and maps of marine mammal habitat in both summer and winter. The guide lists phone numbers so mariners can report sightings and incidents at both the national and community level, and provides operational guidance when close to or encountering marine mammals.

Hyperlink 2: https://www.wwf.dk/wwfs_arbejde/gronland_og_arktis/sadan_arbejder_vi/oget_sejlads_er_en_trussel_mod_hvaler_/ Chapter 11 of the Polar Code calls on mariners to plan voyages with the least amount of impact on marine mammals in the Arctic. The Greenland Mariner's Guide is a tool for mariners to operationalize this chapter in the Code and reduce harm as much as possible on marine life in Greenlandic waters.

Hyperlink 3: http://oceanplanning.wwf.ca
Chapter 11 of the Polar Code requires mariners to plan voyages which results in the least amount of harm to marine life. WWF Arctic Oceans map depicts areas of high value to local communities and makes recommendations on use and protection for the region.

Hyperlink 4: Eastern Arctic Mariner’s Guide
The Eastern Arctic Mariner's Guide is made up of three large posters to be hung on a ship’s bridge, consisting of:

• Visual identification chart that will help mariners recognize whales, seals, polar bears and walruses.
• Maps of critical habitat, migration routes and calving areas.
• Maps indicating designated conservation areas and ice, including community on-ice travel routes and caribou sea-ice crossings.
• Recommends courses of action regarding sensitive whale habitats, walrus habitat, caribou sea-ice crossings, shipping in polynyas and around floe edges, ice-breaking and Inuit travel routes as well as a tourism exclusion zone and travel speed.
• Lists phone numbers so mariners can report sightings and incidents at both the national and community level, and provides operational guidance when close to or encountering marine mammals.

Hyperlink 5: http://wwfarcticmaps.org/
Chapter 11 of the Polar Code calls for mariners to take into account marine mammals when planning voyages, and to avoid harm as much as possible when transiting in the polar environments. The WWF global Arctic Geographical Information System is a free and interactive mapping platform that combines and integrates existing data about the environment and human activity in the Arctic. The wwfarcticmaps.org web-platform allows any user to download pre-made maps and videos, as well as developing customized maps on their own, using an interactive map service.

WWF Arctic Programme