Sent all members and partners
Dear members and partners
AECO, CLIA, Visit Greenland, Royal Arctic Line and the Government of Greenland – dep. of
transportation, met with Danish Maritime Authorities (DMA) in a workshop in Copenhagen, Tuesday
this week, by invitation from DMA. The workshop was a follow-up of the meeting in March, initiated
by AECO on the background of the public Danish – Greenlandic debate on making pairing of vessels
mandatory when sailing in Greenland waters.
Present on this week’s workshop where:
DMA: Per Sønderstrup, Søren Enemark, Dennis Anthony and Mads Bendtzen
CLIA: Leo Dobber (Holland America Line)
Royal Arctic Line: Allan Idd Jensen
Visit Greenland: Malik Milfeldt
AECO: Leif Skog, chair AECO’s maritime committee (Lindblad Expeditions), Benny Didriksen (Hurtigruten), Ilja
Leo Lang and Frigg Jørgensen
Agenda for the meeting as issued by DMA:
1. Risk assessment tools
Our ambition is to develop a guideline on the items that should be incorporated in a risk
assessment tool for navigating Greenland /Arctic waters
2. Safe routes for cruise ships
We would like to draw up common routes where cruise ships wants to navigate and include a
classification of risks in different areas of Greenland
3. Coordination of ships routes for SAR purposes
We want to discuss practical possibilities to introduce a system where assistance from other
ships can take part of the voyage planning
1
Risk assessment tool
Instead of starting from scratch the meeting went straight to Lindblad Expedition’s example of a
Vessel Risk Assessment Tool, also discussed at the meeting in March. It was emphasized that all
vessels carry out risk assessments, but the method and format may vary. Leif Skog gave a very
informative PowerPoint presentation illustrating LE’s VRAT, which is a partly static and partly
dynamic risk assessment that LE has incorporated as part of their Safety Management System (SMS)
and Polar Water Operation Manual. An outline from LE’s VRAT was also left with DMA. It was
emphasized that this is an example and that each company has to develop their VRATs, adjusted to
fit the company and vessels. It was also underlined that the VRAT is only a start that has to be
followed by mitigating measures. DMA finds LE’s VRAT very interesting and would consider proposing
(with LE’s example depersonalized as attachment) VRAT to be included as part of the Polar Operation
Manual that will be made mandatory through the Polar Code.
2
Safe routes for cruise ships
DMA would like to introduce some kind of zoning system in Greenland, perhaps three different
areas, as a guidance to which vessels could sail where. Visit Greenland would like to see regulations
prohibiting large cruise vessels in e.g Eastern Greenland and Northwest Greenland also based on how
many visitors the small settlements in these areas can take. AECO emphasized that it is important to
distinguish between maritime regulations and regulations aiming to protect e.g. cultural and social
interests – and that the regulations in question at the meeting were maritime related. DMA
explained that they were not aiming at prohibiting sailings in any areas, but would like to issue
information and advice, including information on local conditions, SAR-capacity, sea charts and other
relevant safety issues, for each area. The meeting further touched which potentials there are in
further cooperation between the tourism industry and hydrographic services. LE is cooperating with
British Hydrographic Services in testing equipment to share sea soundings from cruise vessels.
Norwegian Hydrographic Services has approach AECO for a potential similar cooperation. The
initiative will be further discussed and if developed, there might be potential for similar cooperation
in Greenlandic waters. Public (cruise operators/vessels) access to information from the AIS satellite
was also discussed and DMA was positive to a future where this was made public information and
not only for the authorities. The financial situation for a future and permanent AIS satellite has,
however, first to be thrown light on.
3
Coordination of ship routes for SAR purposes
Well aware of the industries position on coordination (pairing) of vessels in Greenland waters, DMA
emphasized the political pressure on the issue and the likelihood for some kind of future regulations
in this direction. The industry representatives repeated many of the arguments against paring of
vessels and also stated that if pairing of vessels is made mandatory, it will close the door on most
cruising in Greenland waters. The meeting then discussed alternatives such as making a ship tracking
system mandatory, potentials through the AIS satellite information, potentials through AECO’s new
cruise database – and potentials through Greenland Command with the information they already
have access to. The industry also pointed to the above discussed issues, incl risk assessment tools,
which all adds to safety - and meet many of the concerns raised by politicians and others. DMA was
encouraged to use this as examples of steps taken to increase safety when sailing in Greenland
waters. DMA aired the idea of if some kind of coordination with local SAR-authorities could be a way
to meet the “demand for coordination”. DMA will have a look at the information already available,
e.g. through Greenland Command. There was no final conclusion on the issue.
These are AECO’s notes from the meeting, which we found very valuable, constructive and with a
good atmosphere. DMA will issue conclusions.
Med vennlig hilsen/Kind regards,
Frigg Jørgensen
General secretary
AECO
P.O. Box 103
N-9171 Longyearbyen
Pho + 47 79 02 63 50
Cell pho: +47 913 90 554
Skype: frigg.jorgensen
www.aeco.no
frigg@aeco.no
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