Since October 7, the Supply Ship “Malik Arctica” operated by the Greenlandic company Royal Arctic Line has been trying in vain to bring ahsore the winter supplies at Ittoqqortoormiit due to challenging ice conditions. A new attempt will be made next week, if the conditions allow. Royal Arctic Line announced this in a press release.
On Thursday, the supply ship turned toward Reykjavik to pick up fuel and other supplies. Royal Arctic Line said wind conditions and other weather factors would determine when the ship will reach Ittoqqortoormiit. It stated: “The ice conditions at the moment are a challenge.”
“We remain optimistic about the delivery of winter supplies to the municipality of Ittoqqortoormiit. Therefore, the “Malik Arctica” will return to the area early next week. “The Royal Arctic Line cannot say at this time when the ship will get to Ittoqqortoormiit and unload the cargo, but we are closely monitoring the ice situation,” the ship’s owner said.
“The unloading in Ittoqqortoormiit is expected to take three days. It is not just a thing to bear in mind that we can get there safely. We have to find stable conditions for unloading and also get out of the area safely,” reads the RAL press release.
The decision to sail therefore is a decision taken both on the basis of weather and ice maps and on the basis of local observations and taking into account the safety of crew, ship and goods.
Ittoqqortoormiit is the northernmost municipality on the eastern side of Greenland with 345 inhabitants. The supply ship usually delivers goods to the remote location only twice a year. Otherwise, the inhabitants live from hunting and fishing.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal