Svalbard Intertidal Project 2015 - expedition logistics


Table 1. Basic equipment for the trip - four persons, 28 days of independent field work

Name Quantity Remarks
Zodiac Grand Raid Mark III2 with repair kit, spare propeller, wheels
Suzuki DF25A 1 25 HP, R3, 4 stroke, manual starter
Suzuki DF25 1 25 HP, V2, 4 stroke, manual starter
Suzuki DF8A 1 8 HP, R2, 4 stroke, manual starter
Hansen E-300-2 survival suit 4 essential equipment !
Rifle Ruger Compact 308 Win 2 20 pcs ammo + 20 training full metal jacket
Signal pistol 2 24 bang, 2 red light ammo
Iridium satellite phone 1 Motorola
DeLorme InReach Explorer with solar panel 1 very useful ! (GPS, Iridium, EPIRB in one)
Emergency beacon (EPIRB) 1 requested by the Governor of Svalbard
Motorola T80 Extreme radiotelephone 2 for short distance communication
Garmin GPSMap 62s 1 with Svalbard topo and marine maps
Main tent 1 Quechua 2 sec. EASY 3
Spare tent 1 Quechua 2 sec. EASY 2
Micro tent 1 Quechua 2 sec. 0
Sleeping bag 4 syntetic -7 – 0 deg
Placemats 4 karrimat
Jerry can 20 liters 10 additional fuel for outboard engines
Plastic barrel 60 l 4 for personal equipment
Plastic barrel 40 l 4 for food
Plastic barrel 35 l 2 for food
Plastic container 80x60x50 1 for camping equipment (tents, etc)
Waterproof, heavy-duty case 1 necessary to protect photo equipment
MSR XGK EX multi-fuel stove 1 excellent solution
MSR DragonFly multi-fuel stove 1 excellent solution
Food 100 kg liofilizated food, canned meat, musli, etc


Table 2. Fuel supply per one engine/boat

Fuel (liters) Place of supply
120 Longyearbyen, fuel station
42 Ny-Ålesund, fuel station
80 Sorgfjorden, courtesy of s/y Solanus
20 Hinlopenstretet, courtesy of psv Polarsyssel (free of charge)
40
30
Hornsund, courtesy of s/y Solanus
Hornsund, courtesy of Polish Polar Station
Total : 332 We returned back to Longyearbyen with 17 liters on board of each boat


Useful informations:
No fuel depot was established (despite Governor's permit for Newtonvika). Many thanks goes to Bronisław Radliński, captain of s/y Solanus and his crew, who transported our fuel to Sorgfjorden and Hornsund.
Mean load per boat : engine (65 kg), 2 persons (160 kg), fuel (80 kg), food + equipment (120 kg) = 425 kg.
Cruise length : 1600 km.
Total fuel consumption : 315 liters per engine/boat.
Mean fuel consumption : 0.197 l/km (5.08 km/l).
Total engine working time : 95 hours.

Usually we were running engines with about 30-40 % of wide open throttle. In good weather conditions that translated to about 25-30 km/h (13.5-16.2 knots ). Maximum speed registrated during our cruise was 34.25 km/h (18.5 knots). 25 HP was absolutely enough to run our Zodiacks with the above load. Their weight (65kgs) was an advantage in comparison with more powerful engines (weight of 40 HP engine exceeds 100 kgs).

About 25 % of total distance in bad weather conditions, against wind and waves. Strong wind stopped us for 4.5 days in the north entrance of Hinlopenrenna. Heavy ice conditions we met between Kapp Payer and Heleysundet, close to Sørkappøya and in Hornsund.