– It’s a bit like playing a computer game. You have to be sharp, and go back and forth, says captain Gisli Konradsson.
Published: Published:
Less than 20 minutes ago
For three days, the Norwegian Coastal Administration has engaged the icebreaker “Stadt Sløvåg” to break up the ice that has settled over the world’s narrowest fjord, the Nærøyfjord in Sogn.
The video and pictures were taken by Ole Christian Flåm on Wednesday, when the icebreaker made the first run into Gudvangen.
– You hear the whole valley bang when the boat arrives, says Flåm on Thursday.
“Stadt Sløvåg” on its way into Nærøyfjorden on Wednesday. Photo: Ole Christian Flåm
According to harbor manager Tor Mikkel Tokvam of the Aurland Port Authority, ice in the Nærøyfjord is not unusual.
– It looks spectacular when the boat slides in. On Wednesday, the ice lay four nautical miles beyond the fjord from Gudvangen. We had ice in November too, and otherwise most years, says Tokvam.
– When we have driven through Nærøyfjorden on Friday, a decision will be made as to whether we will continue with the ice-breaking. It depends on the weather, says the captain. Photo: Ole Christian Flåm
The harbor master says that it is the Coastal Agency that manages the main link and the by-link and has engaged the icebreaker.
– It is a towing vessel that has a good ice class. All vessels are classified according to the type of ice they can pass through. In Gudvangen there is a shipping quay for the rock anorthosite, which is transported to Moss and Slovenia. Cargo ships call here 120 times a year, says Tokvam.
Every three days on average, a cargo ship calls at Gudvangen. Photo: Ole Christian Flåm
Now, when the ice is over the Nærøyfjorden, the tourists are transported to Sagfossen in the Nærøyfjorden and back to Undredal.
– Our challenge is that zero-emission vessels have light hulls that cannot go through the ice. We want year-round operation of tourism, and now the ice covers half of the Nærøyfjord, says the harbor manager.
Captain Gisli Konradsson is aware that icebreaking is not a job that can be done quickly. Photo: Private
Icelander Gisli Konradsson is captain on board “Stadt Sløvåg”.
– The thickness of the ice varies from 5 to 30 centimeters, and 30 centimeters is the limit of what we are able to break up. The boat is 40 years old, but is well maintained and has two engines and two thrusters, says Konradsson.
The icebreaker creates a groove in the ice that is approximately 20 meters wide. Photo: Ole Christian Flåm
– Is it a difficult job?
– No, it is not difficult. But you have to have a feel for what the vessel can handle, and you can’t do the job quickly. First of all, you have to pay attention to the boat, says the captain.
He estimates that they spent three hours breaking the ice on Wednesday.
– This morning the fjord was frozen again. Now it’s ten degrees below zero. A large river with fresh water coming down into the Nærøyfjord causes it to freeze faster. We go back and forth and make a clearing that is approximately 20 meters wide. Today we spent two and a half hours, says Konradsson on Thursday.
Published:
Published: January 11, 2024 3:32 pm
2024-01-11 14:32:54
#clearing #Nærøyfjorden #cleared
