Travel on sea ice

There is currently a lot of ice in the fjords on Svalbard and we remind you of the provisions of the Motor Traffic Regulations on driving on sea ice. In addition to the temporary traffic restrictions that have been introduced in Tempelfjorden, Billefjorden and Dicksonfjorden, and regulation of traffic on sea ice in Van Mijenfjorden National Park in Svalbard, we draw particular attention to regulation of traffic on iced sea areas between Agardhbukta and Wichebukta. Here, the traffic must be on the passage closest to land, and it is not allowed to drive out onto the sea ice in these areas. We also remind you that driving in the nature reserves in the east of Svalbard is prohibited, see map A of the Motor Traffic Regulations.

Permanent resident
Permanent residents can use snowmobiles and belt wagon on snow-covered and frozen ground:

1. in areas marked in yellow on map A;
2. in an area marked in green on map A until 1 March each season (snowmobile season);
3. in a mapped carriageway through an area marked in green on map A.

The route is marked with a solid red line on map A and runs along the valley floor of Kjellströmdalen to the Kjellströmdalhytta, further up the southern Bellsund pass and down Passbreen and from there the shortest passable way over to Agardhdalen (Agardhsletta).

Visitors
Visitors can use snowmobiles on snowy and frozen ground:

1. in areas marked in yellow on the attached map B;
2. in an area marked in blue on the attached map B along the east coast of Spitsbergen between Agardhbukta in the south and Wichebukta in the north, if they participate in organized tours or are accompanied by permanent residents;
3. in an area marked in blue on the attached map B on parts of Filchner- and Lomonosovfonna, if they participate in organized tours or are accompanied by permanent residents;
4. in an area marked in orange on the attached map B outside Ny-Ålesund if they are accompanied by permanent residents in Ny-Ålesund;
5. in a mapped route as described in the first paragraph letter c and marked with a red line on the attached map B, if they participate in organized tours or are accompanied by permanent residents.

The areas mentioned in the first and second paragraphs also include adjacent ice-covered sea areas, except for ice-covered sea areas between Agardhbukta and Richterfjellet, cf. first paragraph letter b where motor traffic is prohibited after 1 March. On Storfjorden between Agardhbukta and Wichebukta, the traffic shall be on the passage closest to land.

Billefjorden
In ice-covered sea areas in Billefjorden, Petuniabukta and Adolfbukta, motor vehicle traffic is prohibited until 1 June 2024. It is permitted to cross ice-covered areas in Billefjorden with snowmobiles on the shortest navigable route between Nordenskiöldbreen and Pyramiden and beyond this, between Pyramiden and the outlet of Hørbyedalen and between the outlet of Hørbyedalen and Ebbahytta, shown on map C. When crossing frozen sea areas in line with this provision, only necessary safety stops are permitted.

Tempelfjorden
On ice-covered sea areas in Tempelfjorden, within a straight line between the outlet of the Murdochelva and Kapp Schoultz, there is a ban on motor vehicle traffic until 1 June 2024, shown on map D. Outside this area, it is permitted to cross ice-covered areas in Tempelfjorden with snowmobile on the shortest possible route. When crossing frozen sea areas in line with this provision, only necessary safety stops are permitted.