The Norwegian Polar Institute has chosen to cancel a planned voyage with the research ship “Crown Prince Haakon» as part of saving money.
– Canceling an important voyage and mooring the research ship is a long way off. It’s not something we take lightly. But increased costs and expenses mean that we cannot avoid cuts in activity this year, says the Polar Institute’s director, Camilla Brekke.
The Polar Institute’s director, Camilla Brekke.
Photo: PÅL JAKOBSEN / The Polar Institute
She says the institute must take immediate financial measures to break even and avoid overspending in 2024.
“Crown Prince Haakon» was actually supposed to monitor the inflow of warmer water into the Arctic Ocean. Nothing will happen now.
Brekke says that it is increased costs and expenses that are the reason why they, among other things, choose to cancel one of the voyages of the research ship.
– There are tougher frameworks and an economic situation we are in, and we are taking action to ensure that we achieve financial balance in 2024, she says.
Norway’s crown jewel
– It is a strange development that one chooses to invest in this flaky new vessel, which is Norway’s crown jewel when it comes to polar research, but at the same time one should not be able to afford to conduct research with it.
So says senior researcher at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Andreas Østhagen.
– It is somewhat similar to the situation with Norwegian frigates and Coast Guard vessels, where a lot of money is spent on infrastructure and not on operations. It strikes me as surprising, strange and perhaps a wasteful use of investments, says Østhagen.
Andreas Østhagen at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute.
Photo: Private
The director of the Polar Institute says they have been monitoring the inflow of warm water north-east of Svalbard since 2012. After careful review, they have therefore chosen to cancel this very trip in order to save money.
– We can neither do the data collection nor the maintenance that was planned. It is of course unfortunate for our research, says Brekke.
Less visibility in the northern areas
Brekke points out that the Polar Institute’s mandate is to promote Norwegian interests and visibility in the Arctic and Antarctic, including the northern sea areas. Canceling a trip will lead to less Norwegian visibility in these areas.
– This is a matter which of course affects the cooperation we have with other partners. It is unfortunate, but at the same time it is a mitigating and important measure to get us on the right course. Then we will come back stronger, says Brekke.
“Crown Prince Haakon” in the police a few years ago.
Photo: Aleksander Eeg
Østhagen points out that although it is not the research ship’s job to observe other vessels in the area, there is no doubt that there is a political and strategic significance attached to the presence of “Crown Prince Haakon” in the Arctic.
– Norway is a major power in the northern regions. It is partly our research that makes us a major power. Reducing this presence is strange when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the northern areas are our most important strategic investment area, says Østhagen.
Brekke says the cancellation of the cruise is one of several measures they are taking to achieve financial balance. Docking “Crown Prince Haakon” will provide the biggest savings.
– We have done what we can to ensure that this is not harmful to the Norwegian Polar Institute and our delivery to the Ministry of Climate and Environment, she says.
