Health Hospital and dental services are available in Longyearbyen, but note that serious injuries or health issues will not be treated locally and will require an air lift to mainland Norway. As Svalbard is not in the EEA the European…
Food Svalbardbutikken, the main grocery store in Longyearbyen, offers a good range of supplies. Prices for fresh items such as milk and vegetables are higher than on the mainland, while canned and dried foods, as well as long-life milk, may be cheaper.…
The information below is in addition to that presented in chapter Norway, 8. Stopping; some of which also applies to Svalbard. Docks are only available in Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, Pyramiden and Ny-Ålesund. However, none of these provide reliable shelter from strong…
Pack Ice Sea ice conditions around Svalbard are shaped by two main forces: the last warm reach of the N-flowing Gulf Stream, and polar pack ice drifting SW along the east side of the archipelago. Wind also plays a major role…
The information below supplements that given in chapter Norway, 6. Weather and Weather Forecasts, some of which also applies to Svalbard. Weather in the high Arctic can vary greatly from year to year, and both crew and vessel must be prepared…
The information below supplements that given in Chapter Norway, 5. Communications, some of which also applies to Svalbard. VHF and SSB During the first part of the passage to Svalbard, you will be within VHF range of the Coastal Radio North…
The information below is in addition to that presented in the chapter Norway, 4. Navigation; some of which also applies to Svalbard. Charts and Publications Paper Charts Svalbard is constantly being re-surveyed and charts are revised and re-published. In latter years there…
The information below supplements that given in Chapter Norway, 3. Rules and Regulations. Some of those rules also apply to Svalbard. Norway has full sovereignty over Svalbard under the 1920 Svalbard Treaty. The territory is administered by the Governor of Svalbard…
The information below supplements that given in Chapter Norway, 2. Preparation, some of which also applies to Svalbard. Most of Svalbard is protected, and strict rules govern where you may travel and what activities are permitted. Research should begin well in…
Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic consisting mainly of the islands of Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, along with many smaller islands between approximately 77° and 80° N. Bjørnøya (Bear Island), located at 74°27′ N, 19°04′ E about halfway between mainland…