Sea ice poses one of the greatest risks for snow scooter drivers on Svalbard. If you go through the ice you only have, at best, a few minutes before it’s too late. Now UNIS has started throwing people into the sea to give them a realistic feel of the dangers posed by sea ice.

Text: Eva Therese Jenssen
Photos: Peter Leopold

Sea ice is one of the deadliest dangers for snow scooter drivers on Svalbard and it is difficult to know the exact conditions because sea ice is such an unpredictable element and the conditions change all the time.

Last week a select group of UNIS staff, master- and Ph.D.-students took the jump into the sea and crawled their way up on the sea ice again – under the safe supervision of UNIS technicians.

UNIS students and staff get instructions about what sort of equipment is essential to save someone who has gone through the sea ice. (Photo: Peter Leopold).

Realistic experience

The participants had full scooter clothing; suit, boots and helmet – in order to get a realistic feel of how fast the clothing fills with water and of how difficult it is to get back on safe sea ice after being soaked for only some seconds.

- This is the first time we have ever – literally – thrown people into the sea in winter with scooter clothing, says Fred Skanche Hansen, head of the UNIS Safety and Logistics department.

– We have started doing this because it is not enough to hear about the sea ice risks, the only way to really learn is to experience the situation, he says.

Not only does UNIS want to teach staff and students about how to get out of the water, but the overall goal is to teach people to avoid ending up in the water in the first place, Hansen explains

A UNIS student tries to get out of the water, while a technician monitors the situation. (Photo: Peter Leopold)

Time and equipment are crucial
- If the accident happens, it is imperative that you know how to get yourself out of trouble and on safe ground. Especially the time aspect is crucial; you must understand how little time you have before the clothing starts weighing you down and you start to freeze, he says.

Ice spikes should always be on your body when driving a snow scooter. Preferably the spikes should be hanging around your neck so that they are easily accessible, otherwise you will loose precious seconds if you have to get them out of a pocket.

Master student Allison Bailey was the first one jumping into the sea. – I was really nervous because the clothing was so heavy, but I had the ice spikes ready when I jumped into the sea. The first 5-10 seconds the suit gave good buoyancy, but it soon started dragging me down, Bailey explains.

Part of the UNIS safety course
- This underscores the short reaction time you will have, but also shows that if you act fast you have a possibility to save your life, Hansen says. - And it shows that if you do not have the right equipment on your body, you really do not have much chance of getting back on safe ice.

- It was good to experience how swiftly water fills the suit. I know this experience will always be in the back of my mind whenever I travel by snow scooter, Bailey concludes.

The practical sea ice lesson will from now on be part of the annual UNIS safety course.

Get more information about sea ice and associated risk factors on the UNIS Info Lessons page.

Time and the right equipment are of essence if you go through the sea ice. Getting back on safe ice is the key to survival. (Photo: Peter Leopold).