Safety on Arctic Waters

 - a message to commanders and crew

Avoid using Zodiacs and dinghies near icebergs and glaciers
In a number of incidents zodiacs, dinghies and other small vessels have been used to bring tourists close to icebergs and glaciers in Greenland. Greenland Tourism, The National Tourist Board of Greenland, must stress that such excursions may endanger the lives of passengers and crew.

Over the past few years there have been several incidents in which icebergs and calving glaciers - and their resulting tidal waves have caused boats like the above mentioned to capsize. Such tidal waves and crushing chunks of ice represent a threat to the safety of both foreign and local vessels.

Exercise caution when sailing near ice
We therefore strongly urge sailing operators the following precautions:

In general, exercise pertinent precaution when sailing alongside glaciers and in waters with icebergs. Regardless of the vessel type - including cruise ships - remain at a safe distance from the ice. Icebergs can suddenly and without prior indications fall apart or flip over. Likewise, glaciers occasionally calve huge chunks of ice into the sea.

Furthermore, we recommend to you NOT to use Zodiacs or dinghies to take passengers close to the ice on sea excursions. Please take advantage of local excursion operators as these are familiar with local conditions and are fully safety certified by appropriate authorities. 

This will also be beneficial to the local communities and to the overall image of cruise tourism in Greenland as being an economically viable industry for the locals.

The beautiful, but treacherous ice
Seen from a distance the forces of nature are astonishing, but being in a vessel too close to the ice can turn out disastrous when such events unfold.

For cruise vessels AND tour operators that despite this message intend to continue the above-mentioned practices, we urge that passengers be duly notified of the inherent risks.

Special rules apply for Ilulissat Icefjord
Please notice, that the Home Rule Government has issued a statutory order of preservation as of July the 1st 2007, which regulate sailing and cruising with tourists at Ilulissat Icefjord. These rules are available for download here. If in doubt, please contact your shipping agent in Greenland for further instructions.

Extras
To familiarise yourself with the powers of nature, please watch this 50 second video of a giant iceberg collapsing in Ilulissat: