Crude oil has been banned from the nature reserves in the eastern part of the Spitsbergen archipelago already in 2007, and the same legislation has been introduced to the national parks, covering large parts of the west coast, in 2009 (excluding, for some years, a route into Magdalenefjord, a popular destination for large cruise ships). Crude oil is a common fuel type for larger ships.
It is now considered to ban crude oil from all Spitsbergen waters, only excluding acknowledged shipping routes to Longyearbyen and the mining settlement of Sveagruva. This is to prevent catastrophic oil spills in case of shipping desasters.
This would factually be the end of oversea cruise ship visits to Spitsbergen or at least a drastic reduction. From an environmental perspective, a ban on crude oil in arctic waters would be very welcome.
41.387 visitors came to Spitsbergen on ships, by far most of them on large cruise ships. Some more are expected in 2010.
The oversea cruise ship Costa Magica, here in Longyearbyen on 03 August 2009, was until then the largest ship to visit Spitsbergen.
By the way, my new book is in print and it can now be ordered 🙂 it is a photo book with the title “Norwegens arktischer Norden (3): Die Bäreninsel und Jan Mayen”, with German text Click here for further details!
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.