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New Svalbard vessel heads north

The "Polarsyssel" will manage the Arctic waters of Svalbard.

The “Polarsyssel” has state of the art technology enabling it to engage in rescue and emergency situations under extreme Arctic conditions.

Location

The 88 meter long vessel has arrived in the Norwegian yard of Havyard where equipment and technology will be installed. In late August, the “Polarsyssel” will head towards its main operation areas around Svalbard, the Svalbard Governor’s office informs.

The vessel will be a key tool in local Norwegian authorities’ management of the Svalbard waters, and also serve the country’s rescue and preparedness systems in the area.

As previously reported, the “Polarsyssel” will replace the “MS Nordsyssel”, the vessel currently used by the Svalbard Governor. The authorities on the islands will in the course of the year also get an enhanced helicopter capacity. From late 2014, two big-size helicopters will be stationed on the islands.

The “Polarsyssel” will be operated by the Svalbard authorities six months of the year. In the remaining half year, the ship will be used as a regular platform supply vessel, Sysla.no reports.

The ship hulls have been made by the Turkish Cemre Yard and has ice class 1B. Installed is a helicopter pad and helicopter refueling system, as well as a special winch for tugging operations.

The Svalbard governor’s office is leasing the vessel for a price of 32,9 million NOK (€4,4 million) per year.

The Svalbard Governor is the Norwegian Government’s top representative at the archipelago. The governor’s office makes sure that all countries represented at the islands observes the Svalbard Treaty, the agreement from 1920 securing Norwegian sovereignty over the archipelago.