Svalbard

Sometimes it’s good to see a familiar sight in a remote place, this vessel is called the Noorderlicht and has worked in the waters around Svalbard for many years. The community sailing around the archipelago is relatively small and crews will keep in touch, swapping tips and information about ice, wildlife and weather. On a sunny day it can feel safe and calm around these Arctic islands but the weather can change in minutes and it’s a comfort to know that you may be able to call on assistance. In recent years, this ship used to ‘freeze in’ to the ice of one of the fjords in winter, this rarely happens now due to ice not forming to any thickness over the fjords. This is a result of the warmer temperatures being experienced on Svalbard -a local example of climate change. During a memorable voyage I’d joined a team who sailed this ship west to Greenland. If you’re following @caesaria you may have seen a picture of this ship in thicker ice on the way to Greenland.