AECO is pleased to welcome Viking Ice Consultancy as an Affiliate member to AECO. Viking Ice Consultancy is a company specialized in ice management, based in Kristiansand, Norway. AECO welcomes the new member and looks forward to a rewarding cooperation.

AECO is pleased to welcome Polar Kreuzfahrten as a Provisional member to AECO. Polar Kreuzfahrten is a tour operator that specializes in Polar Cruises, chartering MV Cape Race and other vessels. AECO welcomes the new member and looks forward to a rewarding cooperation.

Save the dates! The biennial joint AECO/IAATO Field Staff conference dates have been set. Please save the dates 2-4 October, 2017 and be prepared to join us in Iceland for this exciting event. Based on wonderful premises outside Reykjavik, participants will be invited to involve in a comprehensive program under the heading “The Tourism Industry: […]

AECO is proud receiver of funding from Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund to develop additional site specific guidelines for selected sites in West-Spitsbergen. The Governor of Svalbard is in a draft proposal to a Managementplan for national parks in Svalbard, suggesting that site specific guidelines should be mandatory for cruise operators when landing in nine specific […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]