Port of Longyearbyen Development

November 28th, 2016

The Norwegian Coastal Administration has researched usage needs and looked at different concepts for development of Longyearbyen harbor. In a recently published report, it has concluded that it would be socio-economically justifiable to expand Longyearbyen harbor with two new harbor areas, one for the fishing industry and another for tourism and other needs. The report […]

Management Plan for Spitsbergen’s National Parks and Bird Sanctuaries

November 25th, 2016

The Governor of Svalbard has issued a proposal for a management plan for West Spitsbergen national parks and bird sanctuaries. The proposal includes a requirement to develop site-specific guidelines before landing at nine sites along the coast. AECO has already developed site guidelines for seven of the relevant sites and will initiate the development of […]

Implementation of Guidelines

November 22nd, 2016

AECO, in cooperation with Paul Whipp from Lakehead University, has asked members and field staff to participate in a survey investigating the implementation of AECO’s guidelines on company and field staff levels. The results were presented at AECO’s Annual Meeting 2016 and the meeting decided that a number of follow-up steps should be taken on […]

New AECO Yacht Committee

November 18th, 2016

AECO’s Annual Meeting 2016 decided to establish a Yachts Working Committee. The committee’s first assignment is to look at possible yacht guidelines, and consider if/how AECO can provide assistance and relevant information for private yachts (motor and sailing yachts) intending to cruise Arctic waters.

AECO’s Next Joint SAR TTX

November 17th, 2016

AECO will in cooperation with the Icelandic Coast Guard, arrange a second Joint Arctic SAR TTX in Reykjavik on April 5-6, 2017. The event aims at gathering mariners, captains and other with special maritime competencies, as well as the Arctic SAR community.  Background AECO participates in an increasing number of search and rescue exercises, conferences […]

AECO’s Position on HFO

November 16th, 2016

Currently, there is no heavy fuel oil (HFO) ban in the Arctic, with the exemption of the nature reserves and the large national parks in Svalbard. AECO’s Annual Meeting 2016 reconfirmed that AECO will support an international ban on HFO for all ship traffic in the Arctic. Such a ban would be beneficial to avoid […]

AECO Position on UAV’s

November 15th, 2016

During AECO’s Annual Meeting 2016 an amendment to further strengthen AECO guidelines regarding Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) was approved: “AECO has banned a general use of UAV by revenue passengers in the Arctic. Use of UAV’s for special purposes may be decided by the operators within limits of regulations and AECO guidelines. UAVs should not […]

AECO- IAATO Field Staff Conference

November 14th, 2016

AECO in cooperation with IAATO is planning a fourth Polar Field Staff Conference in the second half of 2017. The event and agenda will include presentations and work related to environmental and safety challenges in polar tourism. The conference is scheduled to take place late September or early October.

Quark Expeditions Wins Puffin Award

November 10th, 2016

During the past operational year, AECO’s secretariat has given out 134 Puffins. Again, this year the proud winner of the prestigious Puffin Award was Quark Expeditions with a total of 21 Puffins. Background At AECO’s Annual Meeting 2014, the Puffin Award and traveling trophy was established. The trophy consists of a bronze statue of a […]

New AECO members

November 1st, 2016

AECO is pleased to welcome Ponant as a Provisional member of the association. Ponant is a French company that will be operating the vessels Le Boreal and Le Soleal in the Arctic in 2017. Furthermore, AECO is pleased to welcome Cruise Iceland as an Affiliate member. At AECO’s Annual Meeting 2016 in Oslo last month, […]