The Norwegian Coast Guard on Comprehensive Operation to Strengthen Arctic Cooperation

On 19 June, NoCG Hopen set out on a two-month voyage with Arctic cooperation in focus.

Initially, the vessel met the Danish inspection ship HDMS Thetis for joint exercises off Iceland.

"We conducted maritime helicopter operations, during which Norwegian pilots landed a Danish helicopter on board NoCG Hopen. Norway has sent Coast Guard pilots to Denmark to learn to fly Seahawk helicopters, which the Norwegian Air Force will receive to support the Coast Guard," Commanding Officer of NoCG Hopen, Lieutenant Commander Anders Krakstad, says to High North News

The journey then continued to the Icelandic capital, Reykjavík.

"There, we took part in the celebrations marking the Icelandic Coast Guard’s 100th anniversary together with the Commander of the Norwegian Coast Guard, Commodore Øyvind Dunsæd. We also took on board two crew members from the Icelandic Coast Guard vessel Þór, who joined us onwards to the United States," Krakstad describes.

Building relationships

The commanding officer of NoCG Hopen gives an insight into the overall framework for the comprehensive operation.

“The aim of Arctic Cohesion has been to strengthen bilateral relations with allied coast guards in Iceland, the United States, Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland. Through joint exercises and the exchange of experience, we gain greater knowledge and strengthen our ability to carry out missions in Arctic waters,” says Krakstad, continuing:

“This is in the spirit of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum, which was established in 2015, and is based on the network developed within this cooperative body.”

Through the operation, the Norwegian and allied coast guards have become better acquainted with each other’s regulations and procedures, as well as gained insight into why things are done both similarly and differently, he also points out.

“We have also also received tips and inspiration on how we can conduct our own operations, and identified barriers to cooperation that we need to work on further. In addition, face-to-face meetings make it easier to get in touch later in order to deepen collaboration.” 

Cooperation with the US Coast Guard

In the United States, NoCG Hopen first sailed to New York, where the vessel took part in the US Navy’s 250th anniversary celebrations alongside the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen.

"After departing New York, NoCG Hopen began sailing and conducting joint exercises with the US Coast Guard vessel USCGC Stone. This included personnel exchanges between the vessels and training in coast guard tasks such as search and rescue and border control. We also practised cooperation in an accident scenario," says Krakstad.

The crew then went ashore in Newport, where they visited the US Naval War College, before continuing on to Canada.

New cooperation agreements

"In Canadian waters, we began joint training and personnel exchanges with the Canadian Coast Guard. Together with various Canadian Coast Guard vessels, we conducted exercises in search and rescue, border control, environmental response and towing," says the commanding officer, continuing:

"We then called at Halifax for a crew change and a bilateral meeting with the commissioner  of the Canadian Coast Guard. The head of the Norwegian Coast Guard travelled there, and together the two chiefs signed an agreement to strengthen Norwegian-Canadian Coast Guard cooperation. At the end of August, a similar agreement was also concluded with the US Coast Guard in Washington, DC, including references to Arctic Cohesion."

A reception was also held on board NoCG Hopen in Halifax, organised in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy in Canada. Representatives of the Canadian Coast Guard and its partners were present. The crew of NoCG Hopen also visited local search and rescue stations.

"When we sailed from Halifax, we had twelve people from the Canadian Coast Guard with us, as well as cadets from the Canadian Coast Guard Academy. We carried out further training activities and also called at the city of Sydney in Nova Scotia, where we visited the Canadian Coast Guard Academy itself, which collaborates with the Norwegian Coast Guard's competence centre in Bergen," Krakstad says.

Visit to Greenland

NoCG Hopen then set course for Greenland.

"In Nuuk, we visited the Joint Arctic Command, which is responsible for coast guard tasks around Greenland, as well as the Greenlandic police and the fisheries and hunting control authority. We also held a reception on board NoCG Hopen in collaboration with the Norwegian consulate. Those attending were mainly personnel from the Danish Navy," says Krakstad.

Following the meetings and reception, further training activities with Danish patrol vessels took place.

"We sailed with HDMS Ejnar Mikkelsen in Greenlandic fjords and exchanged personnel. The Danes briefed us on nautical conditions around Greenland, as chart coverage is poor for some fjords. We also exchanged personnel with HDMS Thetis and trained with this vessel again." 

Good sailing conditions

"There was some drift ice in the Greenlandic fjords, but NoCG Hopen is built to ice class 6 and has no problems navigating through ice-covered waters. At the same time, it is important to navigate with caution, and we also had a Danish navigator on board to assist us with the voyage. In addition, we received ice charts from the Danish Ice Service in Copenhagen," Krakstad explains, continuing:

"Off Greenland’s east and west coasts, the icebergs are considerably larger than those we encounter around Svalbard. But as long as one remains alert to the waters, there are no problems."  

Overall, NoCG Hopen had favourable weather and sailing conditions throughout the voyage, according to the ship’s commander officer.

"Apart from two days of gale-force winds in Iceland, we hardly encountered a breath of wind. At the same time, we experienced a wide temperature range, from 40 degrees above zero in New York to five degrees above zero in Greenland."

Back in Iceland

The final part of operation Arctic Cohesion involved a return to Iceland. In Reykjavík, NoCG Hopen was the setting for a new reception and further relationship building with the Icelandic Coast Guard, as well as with the island's fisheries authorities, customs service and police.

"In Iceland, we also visited the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and the Directorate of Fisheries, as well as the customs service and police. From the latter, we heard about their experience of handling immigration, as well as how they address customs-related tasks, for example those linked to smuggling and the customs clearance of highly taxed goods," says Krakstad.

NoCG Hopen and the Icelandic Coast Guard vessel Freyja also carried out joint helicopter operations and a accident drill with water intrusion and treatment of injured people.

"We then set course for Norway and two people from the Finnish Coast Guard joined us for the final leg. They were able to see how the Norwegian Coast Guard operates, and we received input on how the Finns carry out their work.

Strong cooperative spirit

NoCG Hopen returned to Norway on 17 August after carrying out what is a unique operation in a Norwegian context.

The commanding officer is left with the impression that the willingness to cooperate in the Arctic is very strong.

"All the Arctic nations we visited expressed that they see great value in exchanging experience and exercising together. We take away valuable experience and greater knowledge of how the different nations conduct operations in the region," he says, continuing:

"In April next year, the Norwegian Coast Guard will also return to Greenland to take part in new exercise activities. This will take place within the framework of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum, which is now chaired by the Kingdom of Denmark. We look forward to it."