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Link to Kings Bay AS (information about flight schedules to Ny-Ålesund etc.) |
Located at the high latitude of 78° 55' N, 11° 56' E, the Ny-Ålesund International Arctic Environmental Research Station is one of the world's northernmost human settlements. Situated on Svalbard (Spitsbergen), midway between Novaja Zemlja and Greenland, the permanently manned research station represents an ideal land based entrance ("European Window") to the European Arctic. The relatively mild climate, easy accessibility by plane and boat, along with the well-developed infrastructure, and highly specialised research facilities, all demonstrate the value of Ny-Ålesund as a central European platform for arctic environmental research.
The Norwegian Government has designated Ny-Ålesund as the centre for environmental research at Svalbard. All other activities must pay due consideration to the needs and demands of the research activities. The aim is to develop Ny-Ålesund into a leading international environmental research and monitoring station in the Arctic. The station serves two purposes: i) environmental research and monitoring observatory, and ii) support and supply for visiting field project campaigns.
Ny-Ålesund was built as a coal mining town more than 75 years ago. Kings Bay Kull Compani A/S, a coal mining company, established itself in Ny-Ålesund in 1917, and is today a state-owned corporation under the Ministry of Commerce and Energy, with 20 permanent employees. Under its new name, Kings Bay AS (KB), the company still owns the properties and is responsible for maintaining and developing the town's infrastructure.
The multitude of environmental research and monitoring programs presently running at the stations in Ny-Ålesund are concentrated mainly on atmospheric and biospheric research, however, significant emphasis is also laid on ionospheric research, solid earth physics and glaciology, with permanent monitoring of the mass-balance of glaciers.
The first building in Ny-Ålesund was built in 1901 by the coal mining company 'Bergen Spitsbergen Kullgrubekompani'. Kings Bay Kull Compani A/S, established itself in Ny-Ålesund in 1917. The coal mining was closed down in 1929, and the Norwegian government took over the stocks of Kings Bay Kull Compani A/S in 1933. Mining was started again in 1945 and Ny-Ålesund rapidly grew to a community of about 200 persons. The coal mining continued until 1963 when, due to a major accident in November of 1962, the Norwegian Parliament permanently terminated all mining activity in Ny-Ålesund.
In 1968 the government decided to have the Norwegian Polar Institute establish a research station in Ny-Ålesund. Since then, the development of Ny-Ålesund as an international research base has been the main reason for maintaining and developing the town. Kings Bay AS, which today is a state-owned corporation under the Ministry of Commerce and Energy, still owns the properties and is responsible for maintaining and developing the town's infrastructure.
Kings Bay AS (KB) runs the whole infrastructure in Ny-Ålesund, and also provides food and lodging. Research institutions may rent houses and services on long-term contracts with KB. Services offered by Kings Bay AS include:
| Power generation and water supply. |
| Accommodation for up to 150 persons. |
| Modern telecommunications. |
| Maintenance of buildings and construction of laboratories, dedicated research and field stations for Norwegian and foreign institutions. |
| A full status Norwegian post office. |
| A shop offering a wide selection of everyday items. |
| An airport serving several flights weekly between Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund during the summer season, and two flights during winter. Aeroplanes and helicopters may be chartered. |
| A modern harbour facility with a 110 m long quay and with a water depth of 9 m, capable of handling cargo up to 50 tonnes, accessibility from May to October under normal ice conditions. |
There are several research stations in Ny-Ålesund which operate independently from Kings Bay within related scientific fields. External users of the different stations are selected by the station manger directly.
The Ny-Ålesund Science Managers Committee (NySMAC) includes representatives from all institutions which have permanent research activities in Ny-Ålesund. The Committee's purpose is to promote co-operation and co-ordination amongst research activities in the Ny-Ålesund area, in order to achieve more effective research and avoid negative impacts on research programmes and the environment.
The "Environmental Impact Assessment of the research activitites in NY-Ålesund (EIA) 2006" is published as the Report no. 04 in the Norwegian Polar Institute's brief series. The work with the EIA involves all of the institutions with permanent research activities in Ny-Ålesund. The Report can be obtained from the NySMAC website.
| From Oslo to Longyearbyen |
| Overnight stay in Longyearbyen |
| From Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund |
| Mail service, air cargo and ship cargo |
| Waste management in Ny-Ålesund |
Currently there are daily flights from Tromsø and from Oslo Gardermoen (some planes land in Tromsø en-route to Longyearbyen), offered by the airline SASBraathes. The budget airline Norwegian will start direct flights from Olso Gardermoen to Longyearbyen on 28th March 2008. The tickets are available directly online from www.norwegian.no. You are recommended to choose the flights that correspond with the flights to/from Ny-Ålesund (the flight schedule is available on the Kings Bay AS website)
Due to the flight schedule, those travelling to Ny-Ålesund might have to spend one night in Longyearbyen on the way to/from Ny-Ålesund. We request the use of the inexpensive lodging in Longyearbyen:
Nybyen Gjestehus "102"
Nybyen, 9170 Longyearbyen
phone: +47 79 02 57 16, fax: +47 79 02
56 81.
Email: 102@wildlife.no
Mary-Ann's Polarrigg
Vei 605, 9170 Longyearbyen
Phone: +47 79 02 37 02
Email: post@polarriggen.com
The lodgings are situated in the "town" of Longyearbyen, about 3 km away from the airport. There is bus transportation to all the hotels in town in connection with the flights to/from Oslo and/or Tromsø.
The 25 minutes’ flight from Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund is carried out by the airline "AS Lufttransport". Kings Bay AS (KB) is responsible for the provision of all subsistence demands (food included) and infrastructural services in Ny-Ålesund, with a capacity to accommodate up to 150 persons.
Note that flight reservations and booking of lodging/ boarding in Ny-Ålesund must be organised through Kings Bay (booking@kingsbay.no; phone: +47 79 02 72 00, fax: +47 79 02 72 01) or through your host station manager.
Due to the limited capacity of the small aircraft (16 seats), as early bookings as possible are strongly recommended. Remember to notify KB in advance of how much luggage you expect to carry with you on the plane to/from Ny-Ålesund. Unannounced luggage weighing more than 20 kg will be taken only if there is enough capacity.
Passengers for the flight from Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund have to be at AS Lufttransport 40 minutes before the departure time. AS Lufttransport is located in the hangar building, on the first floor. Use the outside staircase to find the entrance. There is a sign on the door.
Mail service, air cargo and ship cargo Shipment and posting of goods and cargo to Ny-Ålesund should be organised well ahead of your research campaign. You should use the cheapest transportation available.Remember to label all goods and cargo with:
| (Your name/ your institute’s name) N-9173 Ny-Ålesund NORWAY |
There is a full status Norwegian Post office in Ny-Ålesund. Parcels and letters may be sent by surface mail to and from Ny-Ålesund.
Between international airports and Longyearbyen, air cargo is handled as everywhere else in the world. However, air cargo is transported in regular passenger aircrafts between Oslo and Longyearbyen, therefore the weight and size of the allowed cargo is limited.
Cargo ships to Ny-Ålesund normally embark in Tromsø, with connections to Ny-Ålesund every second week in the period between May to October. During winter there is irregular ship service to Ny-Ålesund, depending on the ice conditions and demand.
For transport of dangerous goods, please contact the air/ ship cargo companies you intend to use.
The Ny-Ålesund area is a pristine and vulnerable polar environment. The majority of waste that is created here, must be transported out of Ny-Ålesund by ship or airplane. Cold conditions tend to preserve waste rather than degrade them. The maximum possible recycling and reuse of waste is therefore essential, and we expect all visitors to follow this practise.
Various specific research supplies and materials are classified as special waste potentially hazardous for the environment and personal health. People who bring special waste to Ny-Ålesund are also responsible for taking it back home. The main requirement is to take all unused, used or broken supplies back home, and to be conscious about what you bring to this vulnerable environment.
Updated 21 August 2007/ Marzena Kaczmarska