"Norway needs a floating campus in the Arctic"

FF Helmer Hanssen, which is owned by UiT The Arctic University of Norway, currently has 300 sailing days, primarily in the Barents Sea and the coasts around Svalbard and Northern Norway. The vessel is extremely important for Arctic marine research and education in Norway.

When the Storting considered the Svalbard report just before Christmas, a majority emphasised that research activity on Svalbard and in the surrounding sea areas depends on modern and accessible infrastructure, and they expressed concern that Norway will lack a platform for research and higher education in Arctic sea areas some years after 2030. In this remark, the Storting also highlights the importance of the collaboration between UiT, NTNU, and UNIS on a new floating Arctic campus with its home port in Longyearbyen.

People standing in a semi-circle in a snowy street. — UNIS Director Jøran Moen (left), Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, who is a professor and director at NTNU Ocean and Coast, local council leader Terje Aunevik, Dean at UiT Jørgen Berge, and Research Director at the Norwegian Polar Institute, Harald Steen. Foto: Karine Nigar Aarskog/UiT

This week, representatives from these three institutions have gathered in Longyearbyen to advance the planning of a new floating campus.

"We have a shared vision of a high-tech campus that not only fills the 300-day gap that will arise when Helmer Hanssen is phased out but also provides space for development and innovation," says Jørgen Berge, Dean of UiT's Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics.

"Norway will lack an important resource"

Up to 400 students receive part of their education on board the ship each year. In addition to UiT using the vessel for its students, it is extensively used by the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) and other national and international research and management institutions. Therefore, when the vessel is phased out in a few years, there will be a significant need for a replacement.

"Then Norway will lack an important resource for marine research and education around Svalbard and in the Barents Sea," says Berge.

Boat among snow cowered mountains. — Helmer Hanssen on an expedition in Svalbard. Foto: Karine Nigar Aarskog/UiT

NTNU wishes to use a new vessel to educate world-class technology candidates who can and will contribute to a better world and a sustainable future. The university is focusing on what they call "The Technology Students of the Future," who will be even better equipped to contribute to solutions for the major, complex, and global challenges of the future.

"We have discussed how we can create something new; a floating campus that is far more than just the ship, to be able to educate the polar researchers of the future. The floating campus could become an interdisciplinary meeting place," says Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, who is a professor and director at NTNU Ocean and Coast.

Emission-free and green

There is also an ambition for the vessel to be emission-free and based on green fuel. With the current pace of technological development, ammonia or methanol seem to be the most likely solutions at the moment. Having the ship's home port in Longyearbyen will therefore make it a driving force in the energy transition in Longyearbyen and also ensure Norwegian presence and assertion of sovereignty in Svalbard.

A person standing before a projector screen. — Conservative Party politician Bent Bakken (left) participated via Teams. Here with strategic advisor at UiT, Geir H. Bakkevoll. Foto: Karine Nigar Aarskog/UiT

"It is stated very clearly in the Svalbard report that research and higher education are among the most important areas for Norwegian activity and presence in Svalbard. With a new floating campus based here, we will strengthen our presence and also Norway as a polar research nation," says Jøran Moen, director at UNIS.

He adds that climate change in Svalbard is occurring much faster than expected, and that Norway must continue to take responsibility for understanding what is happening.

"UNIS needs a floating campus to be able to fulfil its mandate, which is to offer field-based education based on Svalbard's natural conditions. Through education, we strengthen the recruitment of future experts in research, management, and business development," says Moen.

Nine universities on mainland Norway are affiliated with UNIS, which has been offering education in Arctic research disciplines for 30 years.

The polar researchers of tomorrow

The Norwegian Polar Institute is also involved in the work. Research Director Harald Steen says that a new floating campus is very interesting for them as well, particularly considering that it will better equip Norway to educate polar researchers. This plays a role in major initiatives such as the Arctic Ocean 2050 and the International Polar Year in 2032/33.

Two persons walking in a icey street. — Harald Steen (left) together with Jørgen Berge outside UNIS in Longyearbyen. Foto: Karine Nigar Aarskog/UiT

"With a local anchoring of a new floating campus, we can increase recruitment from Norwegian universities and train the polar researchers of tomorrow who are at the forefront with modern equipment and ways to use it," says Steen.

Could generate a lot of enthusiasm

A new vessel with its home port in Longyearbyen also shares many of the same needs as the local community in Longyearbyen, such as storage and quay facilities. The ship could become a resource for environmental monitoring and emergency preparedness and could contribute to developing, among other things, port infrastructure, field safety, and logistics services in Longyearbyen. The leader of the Longyearbyen local council, Terje Aunevik, is enthusiastic about the initiative:

"This is an incredibly exciting project that can benefit the local community here on several levels, beyond just having the vessel's home port in Longyearbyen," says Aunevik.

The institutions now hope that the new floating campus will be included in the state budget to be presented later this year or by autumn 2026 at the latest. There is hope that the vessel could be ready for the International Polar Year in 2032.

"It would be fantastic to be able to christen a new vessel when we start the International Polar Year. Norway needs this floating campus to ensure future relevant expertise in the north and presence and assertion of sovereignty in Svalbard," says Jørgen Berge.

Group photo in an Arctic landscape. — Participants of the workshop held in Longyearbyen this week: Jøran Moen (left), Stein Haaland, Terje Aspen, Gijsbert D. Breedveld, Geir H. Bakkevoll, Simon Sagelv Bjørvik, Jørgen Berge, Anna Vader, Geir Johnsen, Ragnheid Skogseth, Matthias Forwick, Harald Steen, Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, Janne Søreide, and Asgeir Sørensen. Foto: Karine Nigar Aarskog/UiT

Aarskog, Karine Nigar karine.n.aarskog@uit.no Seniorrådgiver kommunikasjon og faggruppeleder, formidling

Published: 25.02.25 15:00 Updated: 26.02.25 12:49

Arctic Ocean Climate