Implementation of experience from the Arctic seal hunter expeditions during the late 19th and the 20th century.

Abstract

In the past, Norwegian vessels entered the Arctic for fishing and for hunting of whales and seals. The seal hunters needed to go to the ice-edge or into the ice to catch the seals, and their activity created much needed income. These seal hunters came mainly from the Aalesund area of Norway (many came from the village of Brandal) and from the Tromsø area in the north.Although seal hunting is controversial today, the experience of the seal hunters might offer important lessons for new industries such as the offshore oil and gas industry and for the navigation in ice-infested northern waters. Prior to the time of steel hull ships with diesel engines, wooden ships with sails and thereafter with steam engines were used. There were frequent losses caused by ice pressure and vessel implosions. Losses were also due to interaction with “ice feet” of multi-year ridges or due to hits from floating floes in waves.There is therefore a strong encouragement to implement the learning of the Arctic pioneers and we will give recommendations regarding implementation of learnings in international standards and codes.