North Spitsbergen - Polar Bear Special

Expedition Log
North Spitsbergen - Polar Bear Special
12-19 June, 2015
On board the
M/V Ortelius
MV Ortelius was named after the Dutch cartographer Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598)
who published the first modern world atlas, the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of
the World) in 1570. MV Ortelius was built in 1989 in Gdynia, Poland, as a research
vessel for the Russian Academy of Science and was named Marina Svetaeva. In 2011
she was purchased by Oceanwide Expeditions. The vessel was re-flagged and
renamed Ortelius. Now the ship is sailing as a 125-Passenger vessel. Ortelius is 91 m
long, 17,6 m wide and has a maximum draft of 5,80 m, with an Ice Strength rating of
UL1/1A, top speed of 13 knots and one diesel engine generating 3200 kW.
Captain Ernesto Barría and
his International Crew of 42
Including
Hotel Manager – Robert McGillivray (The Netherlands)
Chief Steward – Lilliana van Meurs (Poland)
Head Chef – Christian Gossak (Austria)
Assistant Chef – Mathew Crouch (Australia)
together with the expedition staff:
Expedition Leader – Rinie van Meurs (The Netherlands)
Assistant Expedition Leader – Jim Mayer (UK)
Expedition Guide – Sebastian Arrebola (Argentina)
Expedition Guide – Mick Brown (Ireland)
Expedition Guide – Christophe Gouraud (France)
Expedition Guide – Barbara Post (Austria)
Expedition Guide – Ian Stirling (Canada)
Expedition Guide – Josef Wermelinger (Switzerland)
Ship’s Doctor – Paul van Overbeeke (The Netherlands)
Welcome you all on board
the Ortelius!
Day 1 – June 12
Longyearbyen
16:00 GPS position: 78°13.8’ N / 015°36.10’ E
Weather: + 6°C, partly cloudy, wind from NW, Force 6
Around one o’clock in the afternoon
all of us were in Longyearbyen in
Spitsbergen. This former coal mining
settlement has a population of
about 2,300 and is one of the
world’s northern most settlements.
We were taken to the town, while
our luggage was being sorted out
and brought to our cabins on board
of the ship. This gave everybody a
chance to see the town centre and
the excellent museum in the large
modern university building. On
display in the museum is the
whaling history of the archipelago and plenty of information about wildlife, early
exploration and World War II.
Longyearbyen is named after the American, John Munro Longyear (1850-1922), one of the
founders of the Arctic Coal Company (1906-1916). Coal is still produced in a mine near
Longyearbyen but not in quantities like in the twentieth century. Our expedition ship and
home for the next week, the Ortelius was anchored in Adventfjorden and members of our
staff and crew drove us with Zodiacs to the ship. Our stay on board started with a warm
welcome in the lecture room by hotel manager Robert with a useful speech about the ship,
from basic rules about toilet system to high tech wifi and internet connections. We also
heard a bright safety briefing by third officer John about abandon ship procedures and how
to react in case of distress signals. This was followed by an exercise with gathering at the
muster station. Always good to know such things, and hopefully not put them into practice!
We then gathered around our expedition leader Rinie who introduced us to the rest of the
team and we all toasted to our great adventure ahead with Captain Ernesto Barría. After a
great dinner prepared by the chefs Christian and Mathew, we were sailing in the large fjord
of Isfjorden. On both sides of Isfjorden flat-lying sedimentary rocks only 45–60 million years
old were exposed, very young compared to most other parts of Spitsbergen, carved by
recent glaciers to display beautiful U-shaped valleys. As we were leaving Isfjorden towards
the open sea, the wind picked up and we rapidly felt the ship’s movements. Tired after the
long journey and the new impressions, the bunks were quickly found while the ship sailed
into the open sea towards the North.
Day 2 – June 13
Smeerenburgfjorden & Raudfjorden
12:00 GPS position: 79°39.5’ N / 011°10.7’ E
Weather: +4°C, overcast & foggy, wind from N, Force 5
Not all of us have had a
pleasant night. The seas were
rough and there was quite a bit
of wind. During the night
(although at this time of the
year there are 24 hours of
daylight in Svalbard), Ortelius
pitched her way through the
waves to take us to the
Northwest
side
of
the
archipelago. On our way to
Smeerenburgfjorden (named
after the biggest whaling
station in Svalbard active in the
th
18 century), we passed on our starboard side by Prins Karls Forland and Albert I Land.
When the sea conditions were calmer we all gathered in the lecture room for some
mandatory briefings that we have to attend before going ashore, our Expedition Leader
Rinie explained to us the rules and regulations that we need to follow while visiting the top
of the world. He also explained us how to get in and out of the Zodiacs (the rubber boats we
will use for landings), how to wear life jackets and about polar bear safety.
Later in the morning, by entering Sørgattet sound we reached Smeerenburgfjorden and we
sailed through this narrow passage. It was cloudy and foggy but we enjoyed looking at land
from the ship in search for polar bears. We were excited on deck with our jackets on looking
for the king of the North.
At midday our bellies made us notice that it was time for lunch and the next group meeting
happened in the dining room with a nice hot meal.
Early in the afternoon, Ortelius made her way to Raudfjorden, a 20 km long and 5 km wide
fjord with two branches, Klinckowströmfjorden and Ayerfjorden. Visibility was still reduced
with some sleet falling over the ship, however, we kept the lookout for these majestic
mammals.
From time to time we saw some little auks, puffins, and black-legged kittiwakes flying near
the ship.
In the afternoon Barbara gave a lecture about the sea ice ecosystem. She explained the
formation process of the ice and talked about the life that grows inside and how it influences
other ecosystems. We also learnt about the arctic marine food web and the connection with
the arctic terrestrial food web.
In the evening, during the daily recap, Rinie informed us that we would head north where
the sea ice is located, in search for polar bears.
Later on, surrounded by a mystic fog, Ortelius turned northeast in search for the pack ice.
During dinner time we were all excited waiting for the next morning to come. We went to
bed hoping it was another day already!
Day 3 – June 14
In the pack-ice northeast of Lagøya
12:00 GPS position: 80°29.9’ N / 017°11.4’ E
Weather: +3°C, sunny, wind from E, Force 5
Our day started quietly; Ortelius was surrounded by fog and ice. How beautiful and not a
normal start to the day! Slowly the fog cleared away revealing the fantastic polar pack ice
glistening in the bright sunlight. So began the bear watch with all eyes and binoculars
searching for the animal we all hoped to see. Bearded seals and ringed seals lay scattered
across the ice floes and this will surely attract a bear or two.
We encountered a large iceberg wedged into the sea ice. This iceberg most likely came from
East Greenland. It was broken into halves and we could see the layers of snow accumulation
which built up over many years creating the original glacier from which it came (calved). The
beautiful blue colour inspired many photographers. Onward to the north and east we sailed
and the warm sunshine with no wind, was very pleasant indeed.
At 10.40 the call came; a bear was sighted. A large young male it was and he watched us as
we watched him. He moved across the ice and swam with ease and grace occasionally diving
underwater like a seal. This reminds us that the Polar bear is for sure a marine mammal.
Captain Ernesto and his officers positioned the ship within 200 meters of the animal and this
gave us great views and the chance to get good photos. This bear was in good condition,
well fed and he showed no interest in our ship. Sometimes a hungry bear will come to a ship
attracted by the smell of food. So we moved on and renewed our bear watch. Several
species of birds followed us attracted by the broken ice and the chance to find food.
Kittiwakes and glaucous gulls, northern fulmars, Brünnich’s guillemots and little auks were
the most numerous. Ivory gulls were also seen and two pomerine skuas flew past.
The afternoon passed quickly and at 16.00 Ian gave a presentation: The Natural History of
The Polar Bear which revealed many fascinating things about these super intelligent
creatures. For example: they use tools sometimes to get their food (in captivity) and the
females have glands on their feet which release scent. This scent can then be followed by
male bears in the hope of a meeting and mating. Our recap at 18.30 included explanations
of bear behavior, why birds follow ships and differences in sea ice and glacier ice.
Shortly after dinner another bear was sighted. This time it was on ‘a kill’, that is, a bear
feeding on a seal. Once again we made a slow and easy approach without disturbing the
bear. Another young male bear had killed a bearded seal. The bear was in good condition,
normal at this time of year, and he was not in a hurry to eat the seal. A hungry bear will eat
continuously and speedily to prevent another bear from taking the food. And so the evening
passed with our ship maintaining its position just like the bear did with the seal. The main
reason for staying was the hope that another bear(s) would smell the kill and be attracted to
join in the feast. Like us, the bear relaxed and eventually fell asleep following a busy day on
the ice.
Day 4 – June 15
In the pack-ice west of Sjuøyane
12:00 GPS position: 80°48.7' N / 017°57.4' E
Weather: +3°C, foggy, wind from E, Force 3
In the morning light with a fogdimmed sunshine or later on in the
darker fog with different grey in the
light, we spotted the bright and
clean fur of the bear. None
observed his “overnight cleaning
session” after his successful catch
the day before.
We shared breakfast-time with the
bear, too. He started to feed again,
chased the birds away and, after a
while he fed several times. He
shuffled snow around his kill and
offered nice chances for all photographers.
With the clouded sky and fog, we didn’t really have a good chance to find another polar bear
during the day. Also, we had the chance for another approach from a second bear. So we
stayed for the whole morning in the same position in this fantastic place with the bear and
his seal. As the ice moved and Ortelius engine’s pressed the ship a little closer to the kill.
Still, the bear did not react to the ship and we had a closer look.
During the morning, we listened to Mick’s bird lecture and found ourselves after lunch
between the bridge, the bar or the decks to observe the bear or warming ourselves up. After
a while, the bear decided to leave,
he walked slowly away and headed
off into the white out.
We made our way through the ice
again and searched for another nice
bear. Our chances with an overcast
sky and thicker fog made our search
more difficult.
Christophe’s talk about the Arctic
cold and how the animals deal with
this offered us a break and after the
daily recap, we dressed warmly then
joined Barbecue served on deck 6.
Day 5 – June 16
Faksevågen, Hinlopen Strait & Ardneset (Wahlbergøya)
12:00 GPS position: 79°32.9’ N / 017°40.5’ E
Weather: +1°C, overcast and sunny, wind from ENE, Force 3
This morning, we woke up in a calm enchanting bay called Faksevågen, with mist hanging
over the tops of the ridges and part way down the cliffs. The plan was to go snow-shoeing
and, for sure, there was lots of snow! After confirming there were no polar bears or their
tracks anywhere in the snow, the zodiacs were loaded with bags of snow shoes and
everyone went ashore to try a new Spitsbergen adventure. It took a little while for everyone
to figure out how to put the snow shoes on and get comfortable, while stumbling about in
the soft snow, but once that was done, everyone was ready to explore. The snow was deep,
wet, and soft so that even with our snow shoes on, we sunk down a bit when stepping out
on our own. The fast group assembled and sped off to the high ridges, led by Jim, while the
medium group ambled off to a lower viewpoint with Rinie. Despite the extensive snow cover
there were several bird species around getting ready for the bare ground to appear so
nesting could begin. More than 50 common eiders along with 1 king eider swam along the
shore or rested on a small rocky point. A lone barnacle goose walked about and, high on a
rocky ridge, a rock ptarmigan cackled to advertise his breeding territory. On a distant hillside,
a lone fox ran back and forth looking for something to eat while a snow bunting watched
him warily. The fast group spent some time stealthy tracking a reindeer, resulting in a good
encounter. On several of the zodiac rides between the ship and shore a young bearded seal
swam up close to investigate and show off his magnificent long whiskers.
After lunch, we began to cruise south in Hinlopen Strait in search of wildlife in the drifting
pack ice along the coast. Two large adult bearded seals provided wonderful close photo
opportunities as the ship slowly cruised past. A few distant walruses caught our attention
but were near to the coast in shallow uncharted waters so we couldn’t get in closer.
Meanwhile, the distant walruses loafed on the floes and raised a head to look around a few
times, but mainly dozed and digested their stomachs full of clams. Then we had a pause in
activities while a minor problem with the ship was fixed. Once that was done, we were
underway again, headed north and looking for more walruses. Luck was with us when we
got to Ardneset on the SW tip of Wahlbergøya. There were a dozen male walruses, mostly
young adults but a couple of young ones as well, loafing in a big pile on a snow bank above
the beach, and a small variable number in the water. They were relaxed about our presence
and we kept a respectful distance so as not to disturb them while the boats full of cameras
fired away. The walruses on land periodically raised their heads up, gave deep roars, and
then pounded down with their tusks on the back or neck of a neighbour, who in turn passed
on the favour to the next animal nearby. Three walruses in the water swam near the zodiacs
and demonstrated the fluid beauty of their swimming movements in the water which
contrasted so markedly with their clumsy somewhat ungainly movements on land.
Overhead, several arctic terns gave their high-pitched calls over the zodiacs as we took in the
beauty of the moment in the soft light of late evening. It was fairly late by the time everyone
and all the zodiacs were back on board but it was a memorable arctic day, characterized by
taking advantage of moments of opportunity to their greatest.
Day 6 – June 17
In the pack-ice north of Moffen
12:00 GPS position: 80˚35.8' N / 014˚23.4' E
Weather: +3°C, overcast to sunny, wind from WNW, Force 2
Our wake-up call was at 7 o`clock when Ortelius began to
move through the ice. The bumping and grinding noises were
the sound of ice being crushed and pushed aside by our very
strong ship. We were at 80°26’ North, the weather was
overcast, but visibility was good. After breakfast we took up
various positions around the decks to begin searching for
wildlife. For sure there was a lot of “blubber” lying on the ice,
polar bear food, but where is the bear? At 11 o`clock
Sebastian gave a talk about the famous Norwegian explorer
Roald Amundsen. For a while, Amundsen was busy with other
adventures such as conquering the South Pole and the
subsequent Maud-expedition in the Northeast Passage,
which is famous for it’s successful research work. He became
convinced that it was possible to reach the North Pole by air
and in 1922 he chose Ny Ålesund as a base for his
expeditions. He did not reach the North Pole, but could prove
that it is possible to fly with a plane in the Arctic.
In the afternoon at 2 o`clock Rinie announced a polar bear far
in the distance. Happily excited we all dressed warmly and
rushed out on deck. First we did not find any bear, but a big
flock of birds, a mix of glaucous and ivory gulls. They feasted
on a large dead bearded seal, but where was the bear?
We scanned the sea ice and all the possible hiding places,
behind pressure ridges, but we saw no bear. A call from the bridge gave us a hint, two big
yellowish animals swimming in the water next to the kill. The bears climbed up on the ice, so
we were able to have a better look on them. Two large mature battle scarred males walking
on the sea ice, for sure a seldom sight. They were on a mission, heading back to their kill as
fast as possible. Then they started playing with each other and with parts of the dead seal in
the water. After washing their faces in the snow and matching their strengths they departed
from the ship and from each other. What a show!
A lecture in the late afternoon from Ian highlighted the difficult life of a polar bear
nowadays, as the climate is changing. The sea ice is getting lesser and lesser, so polar bears
need to find alternative prey resources and different denning areas in the Arctic.
Recap was starting with the feeding behaviour of walruses, but we had to interrupt for a
good reason. A call came through the PA system, a
humpback whale feeding, hurray! It was very
interesting to see this big animal doing bubble
netting and many birds were following the whale as
they were benefiting of the upwelling crustaceans.
After watching also a few cute puffins around the
ship we continued with the recap and ended the
day with a great meal.
Day 7 – June 18
Tordenskjoldbukta & Ymerbukta
12:00 GPS position: 78°17.2’ N / 012°52.6’ E
Weather: +7°C, overcast, wind from NNW, Force 4
Ortelius headed southwest during the night.
It was a beautiful morning and we sailed
along the outside of Prins Karls Forland,
heading for Tordenskjoldbukta, a beautiful
area of typical arctic tundra. During the hike
we saw reindeer, some of them even grazing
with their newborn calves. There were also
birds aplenty – nesting barnacle geese, pinkfooted geese, eiders (some even saw king
eiders), great, arctic, long-tailed and pomarine skuas, snow buntings among others. An arctic
fox also paid a quick visit, while a curious bearded seal welcomed us at the landing site. All in
all an absolutely beautiful day in the high arctic, with wonderful weather and more diverse
species of wildlife than we could have ever hoped for! The wind and swell coming from the
north made our last embarkation in the zodiacs a little bit "rock n' roll"…let's be honest, it
was fun!!!! Back onboard Ortelius, it was time for farewell drinks and a round of applause for
all the crew members, the captain, and our expedition leader Rinie, before heading back
towards Isfjord and Ymerbukta where we had a great ship cruise. It was time to make our
way to Longyearbyen.
Day 8 – June 19
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen
08:00 GPS position: 78°13.8’ N / 015°36.10’ E
It was now time to say farewell to our great adventure, to our safe floating home and to our
lovely new friends! Some of us had an early departure and left the ship at 3.15 am while the
rest of us had a more civilized time and we stepped down the gangway at about 9 am. A bus
took us to town so that we could do a bit of visit, shopping and mailing from one of the
northern most settlements, before heading to the airport.
Total distance sailed on this voyage:
858 nautical miles / 1,589 kilometres
On behalf of Oceanwide Expeditions, Captain
Ernesto Barría and the Officers,
all Crew, Expedition Team and Hotel Team,
it has been a pleasure travelling with you!
www.oceanwide-expeditions.com
Birds
English Name
Latin Name
Red-throated diver
Northern Fulmar
Pink-footed Goose
Barnacle Goose
Brent Goose
Common Eider
King Eider
Long-tailed Duck
Rock Ptarmigan
Ruddy Turnstone
Ringed Plover
Purple Sandpiper
Grey (Red) Phalarope
Gavia stellata
Fulmarus glacialis
Anser brachyrhynchus
Branta leucopsis
Branta bernicla hrota
Somateria mollissima
Somateria spectabilis
Clangula hyemalis
Lagopus mutus hyperboreus
Arenaria interpres
Charadrius hiaticula
Calidris maritima
Phalaropus fulicarius
Arctic Skua
Pomarine Skua
Long-tailed Skua
Great Skua
Glaucous Gull
Lesser black-backed Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
Ivory Gull
Sabine's Gull
Arctic Tern
Brunnich’s Guillemot
Black Guillemot
Little Auk
Atlantic Puffin
Snow Bunting
Stercorarius parasiticus
Stercorarius pomarinus
Stercorarius longicaudus
Stercorarius skua
Larus hyperboreus
Larus fuscus
Rissa tridactyla
Pagophila eburnea
Xema sabini
Sterna paradisaea
Uria lomvia
Cepphus grylle mandtii
Alle alle
Fratercula arctica
Plectrophenax nivalis
12-jun 13-jun 14-jun 15-jun 16-jun 17-jun 18-jun
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アビ
ギンフルマカモメ
コザクラバシガン
カオジロガン
コクガン
ホンケワタガモ
ケワタガモ
コオリガモ
ライチョウ
キョウジョシギ
ハジロコチドリ
ムラサキハマシギ
ハイイロヒレアシシギ
クロトウゾクカモメ
トウゾクカモメ
シロハラトウゾクカモメ
オオトウゾクカモメ
シロカモメ
ニシセグロカモメ
ミツユビカモメ
ゾウゲカモメ
クビワカモメ
キョクアジサシ
ハシブトウミガラス
ハジロウミバト
ヒメウミスズメ
ニシツノメドリ
ユキホオジロ
Mammals
English Name
Latin Name
Walrus
Bearded seal
Ringed seal
Odobenus rosmarus
Erignathus barbatus
Phoca hispida
Minke Whale
Blue Whale
Fin Whale
Humpback Whale
Polar Bear
Arctic Fox
Spitsbergen Reindeer
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Balaenopentera musculus
Balaenoptera physalus
Megaptera novaeangliae
Ursus maritimus
Alopex (Vulpes) lagopus
Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus
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Sebastian was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he
earned a degree in Tourism. He took a one-year mountain
guide training course, climbing in different parts of
Argentina such as Mendoza, Bariloche, and Tierra del
Fuego.
In 2000, he moved to Ushuaia, Argentina, where he became
a Tourist guide in Tierra del Fuego, working as a free-lance
guide for different companies in Ushuaia. Concurrently, he
worked on several vessels visiting sea mammals and birds
colonies at the southernmost tip of South America. He
sailed to many places in the world including to the
Mediterranean Sea, the Canadian Arctic, Antarctica,
Argentina, Chile, and around the mystic Cape Horn. In
2002, he moved to England for almost two years, where he
took different courses on Sea Survival (Including wet drill),
Marine Radio Operator (Short Range) and First Aid, all
accredited by the Royal Yachting Association.
Sebastian has specialised in polar tourism and natural history. His first trip to Antarctica was on
board a 36 ft (12 m) sailing boat, during this one-month voyage he developed skills on icenavigation, and he familiarised himself with the Antarctic Environment, Exploration History,
and Natural History. He has led several expeditions to Antarctica on board different vessels. He
also worked as a lecturer (Geography, Ice, and Antarctic History), naturalist and Zodiac Driver.
In 2008, his polar experience also extended to the Arctic, sailing in the Canadian Arctic and part
of the Northwest Passage.
As a lecturer on Antarctic topics, he has been invited to the annual meeting of the International
Superyacht Society, in Fort Lauderdale, Unites States, and to the Antarctic week organized
annually in the city of Ushuaia, Argentina.
He has written several articles related to Antarctica in different magazines and publication, like
The Great Southern Route, Superyacht Times, and Boat International among others.
He is also co-author of “Antarctica, discovering the last continent”.
Sebastian speaks English and Spanish.
Christophe Gouraud — Guide & Lecturer
Christophe Gouraud – Guide & Lecturer Christophe was born in France in 1978 and has been passionate about birds since he was a child. After spending five years in Canada on his master degree in ecology, Christophe went to Alaska. He lived on the tiny Middleton Island as a research assistant to study the ecology of seabirds, mainly the Black-­‐legged Kittiwake. He explores polar regions since 2007 and joined many expeditions in Svalbard, Greenland, Nunavut, Antarctic Peninsula, the Falklands and South Georgia. In 2009, he joined the International Fund for Houbara He explores
polar regions since 2007 and joined many expeditions in
Conservation and worked as a biologist field worker in Morocco, Svalbard,
Nunavut,
Antarctic oPeninsula,
the Falklands
and
United Greenland,
Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan, n the Houbara Bustard. In South
the Georgia.
footsteps of Buffon, Cuvier and Temminck, Christophe inventories birds that have been collected After
spending collections five years inof Canada
on his
masters
degree induring ecology,
famous went
expeditions around the on
world the 18 and 19th Christophe
to Alaska.
He lived
the during tiny Middleton
Island
as a
centuries. He is the scientific referee of the Baillon collection (La research assistant to study the ecology of seabirds, mainly the BlackChâtre, France) and the Caire-­‐Chabrand collection legged Kittiwake.
(Barcelonnette, France). Christophe was born in
France in 1978 and has
been passionate about
birds since he was a
child.
In 2009, he joined the International Fund for Houbara Conservation and
worked as a biologist field worker in Morocco, United Arab Emirates and
Kazakhstan, on the Asian and African Houbara Bustard.
In the footsteps of Buffon, Cuvier or Temminck, Christophe inventories
collections of birds that have been collected during famous expeditions
around the world during the 18 and 19th centuries. He is the scientific
referee of the Baillon collection (La Chatre, France) and the CaireChabrand collection (Barcelonnette, france).
Barbara Post – Guide and Lecturer –Zoologist
Barbara Post was born in Austria and has
since her childhood days a sincere interest
in nature and mountaineering. Therefore
the biology study in Innsbruck, a city in the
Alps, fitted perfectly to her interests.
During her bachelor study program she
already started to work for several projects
as scientific research assistant, always
related to mountain research. She also did
microscopic analyses (taxonomy) of the macrozoobenthos fauna in freshwater
ecosystems of Spitsbergen. At this time she started to love cold ecosystems
worldwide and decided to write her Master thesis in the Lake and Glacier Ecology
Research Group, whose expertise lies in Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine research.
With a thesis about water bears living on the surface of glaciers, Barbara finished
her Master of Science/Zoology. Barbara is Co-author in two book chapters about
“Polyextremophiles – Life in the Ice”. Keen to share her knowledge, she is
involved since 2003 in an education program called “Youth into Science” where
she is lecturing and guiding pupils. Her last research project was about bacteria
in glacier ice at the University of Innsbruck. Since 2012 she is a passionate nature
guide in the Arctic, her travels include Norway, Jan Mayen, Svalbard, Iceland and
Greenland. In 2014 she started to join expeditions to the Falkland Islands, South
Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula.
Ian Stirling – Nature guide & Lecturer
Ian is an Emeritus Scientist with
Environment Canada and an
Adjunct
Professor
Department
of
in
the
Biological
Sciences, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, Canada. Following a
life-long fascination with polar
marine mammals, he has carried
out research on polar bears and
polar seals (Arctic and Antarctic)
for close to 50 years. Particular
areas of research interest include ecology, behaviour, evolution,
relationships between polar bears and seals, the biological importance
of polynyas, and the conservation and management of polar marine
mammals and ecosystems. For his work, he has won several awards.
He participates in a number of national and international committees
on polar bears and marine mammals, has authored or co-authored
over 300 scientific articles, and written 5 books on bears and their
ecology for the general public. This is his tenth season as an
ecotourism guide in Svalbard and Antarctica.
Josef Wermelinger – Nature guide & Lecturer
Josef is Swiss and well familiar with
nature,
skiing,
rock
climbing,
trekking or alpine mountain and
glacier tours. Diving in lakes, rivers,
the sea and his interest in boating
have been the basis for a longstanding
passion
for
wildlife
watching under and above water all
year round.
During his professional career as
electronics
engineer
and
managing director of his own
company he widely travelled and developed a strong interest in the
interrelation of natural phenomena and urban influences.
Being an enthusiastic diving instructor and licensed scientific diver his
activities took him to many destinations. Collaboration in research
projects on sharks and their behaviour showed the complex correlation
between
economic
interests,
exploiting
natural
resources
and
sustainable environmental protection. Other projects include maritime
archaeology and hydrographical measurements.
In recent years, he has focussed his activities on video and photo
projects on wildlife in polar regions, such as Greenland, Iceland and
Svalbard, including diving and trekking. Since 2008 Josef has been
working on vessels as a guide in the Arctic as well as in Antarctica.
Combining technology, wildlife watching and active co-operation in
research projects have become his new challenge.
Polar Bear Special
Friday June 12
Longyearbyen
WELCOME ABOARD!
Your luggage will be delivered to your cabin as soon as possible. Please check to make sure you
have received all of your luggage!
Feel free to explore the ship and enjoy a Tea or coffee in the Bar/Lounge on deck 6
TBA
Once we have all passengers on board, we will ask you to gather in the lecture room
on deck 3 to meet hotel manager Robert and Expeditions Leader Rinie (introduction
to the ship) mandatory ‘Safety at Sea’ briefing by the safety officer. Everybody has
to attend this briefing!
This will be followed by a mandatory safety drill.
±18.00
Departure of the Ortelius. Please keep clear of the fore-deck where the crew are
heaving up the anchor.
19.00
Captain invites all passengers to a reception in the bar (Deck 6) and Expedition
Leader Rinie will introduce your expedition staff and inform you about our plans for
the next few days.
19.30
Dinner is served in the dining room (Deck 4 behind Reception).
*TBA = ‘To be announced’. Please listen for announcements on the speaker system.
The first part of the evening we will sail through the large Isfjord towards the open sea. Then we
head north, along the outer coast of Spitsbergen, heading towards the north coast of Spitsbergen.
We stay on the outside of the long and narrow island of Prins Karls Forland as it is too shallow to
pass inside.
Polar Bear Special
Saturday 13th June
North-Spitsbergen
07.30
Wake-up call.
08.00-9:00 Breakfast buffet in the dining room (deck 4) for one hour.
09.15
Please join the Expedition Team in the Lecture Room (deck 3) for a
mandatory briefing on our field guidelines, Zodiac (small boat) operations,
and Polar Bear safety. If you would like to come ashore during this voyage
then you must attend! Everything else is optional….
TBA
Rubber boot hand out. Please listen for announcements as we will call you
deck by deck.
12.30
Buffet Lunch is served in the dining room.
In the afternoon we will search for polar bears and other wildlife in the
Raudfjord area.
18.30
Recap in the bar and learn about our plans of tomorrow.
19.00
Dinner is served in the Dining Room.
Polar Bear Special
Monday 15th June
North of Spitsbergen: In search of polar bears
It’s a Monday morning in the office.
But our office is the pack ice and we will search for wildlife!
Animal sightings and activities will be announced.
07.30
Wake-up call
08.00
Breakfast
Do wrap up warm and come out on deck to join us in the search!
Remember the spitting tips from Ian – look out for small changes in
colour, movement at a distance and don’t forget to check the water too.
12.30
Buffet Lunch is served in the dining room.
During the afternoon we may slot in a lecture or two depending on our
sightings.
18.30
Recap in the bar and learn about our plans of tomorrow.
19.00
Dinner is served in the Dining Room
Polar Bear Special
Monday 15th June
North of Spitsbergen: In search of polar bears
It’s a Monday morning in the office.
But our office is the pack ice and we will search for wildlife!
Animal sightings and activities will be announced.
07.30
Wake-up call
08.00
Breakfast
Do wrap up warm and come out on deck to join us in the search!
Remember the spitting tips from Ian – look out for small changes in
colour, movement at a distance and don’t forget to check the water too.
12.30
Buffet Lunch is served in the dining room.
During the afternoon we may slot in a lecture or two depending on our
sightings.
18.30
Recap in the bar and learn about our plans of tomorrow.
19.00
Dinner is served in the Dining Room
Polar Bear Special
Tuesday 16th June
In the Hinlopenstretet
As usual, our exact plan will depend on ice conditions and wildlife!
07.30
Wake-up call
08.00
Breakfast
This morning we aim to be at Torellneset on the south side of Nord
Austlandet. This area is often visited by walrus and we hope they are at
home! If not we will try to find them at Wahlbergøya, another haul out.
We may land or we may zodiac cruise, depending on which method will
give us the best wildlife viewing opportunity.
12.30
Buffet Lunch is served in the dining room.
Later in the day we will aim to zodiac cruise at a colony of Brünnichs
Guillemots, nesting on the high cliffs at Alkefjellet. Keep your eyes open
for foxes at the northern end!
18.30
Recap in the bar and learn about our plans of tomorrow.
19.00
Dinner is served in the Dining Room
Polar Bear Special
Wednesday 17th June
Exploring Spitsbergen and the Ice
Today is the anniversary of the discovery
of Spitsbergen in 1596 by Willem Barents
07.30
Wake-up call
08.00
Breakfast
Our plans this morning will depend on our activities the night before –
Did we find Walrus? Or Bears?
By leaving the programme open, we can bring you the best of
Spitsbergen and the pack ice!
Therefore we will up date the programme after breakfast with our
intentions.
12.30
Buffet Lunch is served in the dining room.
18.30
Recap in the bar and learn about our plans of tomorrow.
19.00
Dinner is served in the Dining Room
Polar Bear Special
Thursday 18th June
Tordenskjoldbukta and St Jonsfjorden
07.30
Wake-up call
08.00
Breakfast
AM
This morning Robert and Lillian will call you deck by deck to settle your
accounts at reception. You can pay by cash (Euros and Dollars) or credit
card. Tips for the crew can be added to your credit card. It is also
possible to pre-pay lunch time and evening drinks.
TBA
Around 11am we’ll arrive at Tordenskjoldbukta where we hope to land
to find reindeer and barnacle geese. Due to our super humpback whale
sighting yesterday we’re a little later than planned, so stand-by for
changes in plan.
13.00
Buffet Lunch is served in the dining room.
TBA
In the afternoon we aim to offer a hike in St Jonsfjorden to round off
our trip. Expect a trappers’ cabin and a view over the glacier front!
TBA
Rubber boot collection
18.30
Disembarkation briefing and Captain’s Farewell Cocktail in the bar.
19.00
Dinner is served in the Dining Room
Drinks tonight can be paid for in cash in Euros or Dollars at the bar.
Spitsbergen Polar Bear Special
Friday, 19th June
Disembarkation
02.30
Wake up call number 1.
Flight SK4497 04.40hrs – Please leave you check-in luggage outside your cabin before 02.30hrs.
We will move it to the pier for you. Pastries and juice will be available in the bar from this time.
Your bus will depart at 03.15hrs and go directly to the airport.
07.00
Wake-up call number 2!
07.30
Breakfast. Please leave your luggage outside your cabin before breakfast.
09.00
Disembarkation for all remaining passengers.
We will ensure your luggage is ready for you to pick up on the pier side. Please leave your keys at
the reception desk as you leave the ship
Before you go in the bus, please identify your luggage on the pier and take it to the luggage
vehicle. Your luggage will be stored in the secure vehicle, which will meet you at the airport in
the afternoon in time for your flight.
09.00
A chartered bus will take you to the parking area at the Svalbard Butikken (the main
shopping centre in Longyearbyen). You will have time to explore the town.
11.00
Airport Transfer for passengers on flight DY397 12.40hrs. A bus will depart from
Svalbard Butikken to the Airport, where you will pick up your luggage.
12.00
Airport Transfer for passengers on flight SK4491 13.50hrs. A bus will depart from
Svalbard Butikken to the Airport, where you will pick up your luggage.
We wish you a safe onward journey.
It has been a pleasure having you on board the M/V Ortelius!