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Norwegian Ice Service

We provide the national ice service for vessel traffic. This includes updated information on ice conditions in Norwegian waters from the Swedish border to Kristiansand, and information on icebreaking in the main and secondary fairways outside port areas. Ice reports are available from December 1 to March 31.

In sub-zero temperatures, the ice thickens in fjords and the narrow straits along the coast of southern Norway. Throughout the winter season, we monitor and report on the ice situation from the Swedish border in the east to Rogaland in the southwest.

Ice reports

See our latest updates on ice for individual ports and fairways last update 20.12.2024.

AA1 0/// Sekken (Halden).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
AA2 0/// Singlefjorden (Halden).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
AA3 0/// Svinesund - Halden (Halden).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
AA4 0/// Torbjørnskjær (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
AA5 0/// Struten (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
AA6 0/// Løperen (Fredrikstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
BB1 0/// Østerelva (Fredrikstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
BB2 0/// Leira (Fredrikstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
BB3 0/// Vesterelva (Fredrikstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
BB4 0/// Rauøyfjorden (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
BB5 0/// Verlebukta (Moss).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
BB6 0/// Mossesundet (Moss).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
CC1 0/// Oslo - Spro (Oslo).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
CC2 0/// Spro - Drøbak (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
CC3 0/// Drøbak - Filtvet (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
CC4 0/// Filtvet - Gullholmen (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Vesthavna-Filipstad/Hjortnes.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Vesthavna-Pipevika/Akershuskai.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Vesthavna-Vippetangen.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Vesthavna-Revier kaia/Bjørvika.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Østhavna-Bispevika/Sørenga.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Østhavna-Grønlia.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Østhavna-Kongshavn/Sjursøya N.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Sydhavna-S.Sjursøykai/Tank utst.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
 0/// Port of Oslo-Sydhavna-Bekkelaget/OrmsundIce-free. 01.12.2024
CC5 0/// Drammensfjorden (Drammen).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
CC6 0/// Breiangen (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 20.12.2024
DD1 0/// Langrunnen (Horten).Ice-free. 20.12.2024
DD2 0/// Gullholmen - Mefjordbåen (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 20.12.2024
DD3 0/// Mefjordbåen - Fulehuk (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 20.12.2024
DD4 0/// Fulehuk - Færder (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 20.12.2024
DD5 0/// West Færder (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
DD6 0/// South Færder (Oslofjorden).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
EE1 0/// Torgersøygapet (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024
EE2 0/// Husøysund (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024
EE3 8041 Tønsberg indre havn (Tønsberg).Fast ice.New ice. Less than 5 cm.Vast or giant ice floes. More than  2000m across.Navigation difficult or dangerous for wooden vessels without ice sheathing. 12.12.2024
EE4 0/// Vestfjorden (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024
EE5 0/// Leisteinløpet (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024
EE6 0/// Vrengen (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024
FF1 0/// Tjømekjæla (Tønsberg).Ice-free. 12.12.2024
FF2 0/// Sandefjorden (Sandefjord).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
FF3 0/// Inside Svenner (Sandefjord).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
FF4 0/// Outside Svenner (Sandefjord).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
FF5 0/// Larviksfjorden (Larvik).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
FF6 0/// Langesundsbukta (Porsgrunn).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
GG1 0/// Breviksfjorden (Porsgrunn).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
GG2 0/// Frierfjorden (Porsgrunn).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
GG3 0/// Jomfrulandsrenna (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
GG4 0/// Outside Jomfruland (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
GG5 0/// Skåtøysund (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
GG6 0/// Langårsund (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
HH1 0/// Kragerøfjorden (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
 0/// Kilsfjorden (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
 0/// Hellefjorden (Kragerø).Ice-free. 16.12.2024
HH2 0/// Grønholmsgapet (Risør).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
HH3 0/// Stangholmgapet (Risør).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
HH4 0/// Lyngørfjorden (Tvedestrand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
HH5 0/// Outside Lyngør (Tvedestrand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
HH6 0/// Tvedestrandsfjorden (Tvedestrand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
II1 0/// Tromøysund (Arendal).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
II2 0/// Galtesund (Arendal).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
II3 0/// Inside Torungen (Arendal).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
II4 0/// Outside Torungen (Arendal).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
II5 0/// Grimstad (Grimstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
II6 0/// Inside Homborsund (Grimstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
JJ1 0/// Outside Homborsund (Grimstad).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
JJ2 0/// Lillesand (Lillesand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
JJ3 0/// Kristiansandsfjorden (Kristiansand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
JJ4 0/// Outside Oksøy (Kristiansand).Ice-free. 01.12.2024
JJ5 0/// Farsund.Ice-free. 03.12.2024
KK1 0/// Sauda Ice-free. 01.12.2024
LL1 0/// Nærøyfjorden.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
MM1 0/// Surnadalsfjorden.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
NN1 0/// Beistadfjorden.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
NN2 0/// Follafoss.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
OO1 0/// Namsos.Ice-free. 01.12.2024
PP1 7732 Kirkenes Havn (Sør Varanger).Fast ice with pack ice outside.Ice predominately thinner than 15 cm.Big ice floes. 500-2000m across.Navigation difficult for unstrengthened or low-powered vessels built of iron or steel. Navigation for wooden vessels even with ice sheathing not advisable. 20.12.2024
PP2 2221 Bøkfjorden (Sør Varanger).Very open pack ice. 1/10-4/10 ice.Grey ice. 10-15 cm.Medium ice floes. 100-500m across.Navigation difficult or dangerous for wooden vessels without ice sheathing. 20.12.2024

 

Area codes

Kode
Code

Område
Area

Kode
Code

Område
Area

AA1

Sekken (Halden)

FF4

Outside Svenner (Sandefjord)

AA2

Singlefjorden (Halden)

FF5

Larviksfjorden (Larvik)

AA3

Svinesund - Halden (Halden)

FF6

Langesundsbukta (Porsgrunn)

AA4

Torbjørnskjær (Oslofjorden)

GG1

Breviksfjorden (Porsgrunn)

AA5

Struten (Oslofjorden)

GG2

Frierfjorden (Porsgrunn)

AA6

Løperen (Fredrikstad)

GG3

Jomfrulandsrenna (Kragerø)

BB1

Østerelva (Fredrikstad)

GG4

Outside Jomfruland (Kragerø)

BB2

Leira (Fredrikstad)

GG5

Skåtøysund (Kragerø)

BB3

Vesterelva (Fredrikstad)

GG6

Langårsund (Kragerø)

BB4

Rauøyfjorden (Oslofjorden)

HH1

Kragerøfjorden (Kragerø)

BB5

Verlebukta (Moss)

HH2

Grønholmsgapet (Risør)

BB6

Mossesundet (Moss)

HH3

Stangholmgapet (Risør)

CC1

Oslo - Spro (Oslo)

HH4

Lyngørfjorden (Tvedestrand)

CC2

Spro - Drøbak (Oslofjorden)

HH5

Outside Lyngør (Tvedestrand)

CC3

Drøbak - Filtvet (Oslofjorden)

HH6

Tvedestrandsfjorden (Tvedestrand)

CC4

Filtvet - Gullholmen (Oslofjorden)

II1

Tromøysund (Arendal)

CC5

Drammensfjorden (Drammen)

II2

Galtesund (Arendal)

CC6

Breiangen (Oslofjorden)

II3

Inside Torungen (Arendal)

DD1

Langrunnen (Horten)

II4

Outside Torungen (Arendal)

DD2

Gullholmen - Mefjordbåen (Oslofjorden)

II5

Grimstad (Grimstad)

DD3

Mefjordbåen - Fulehuk (Oslofjorden)

II6

Inside Homborsund (Grimstad)

DD4

Fulehuk - Færder (Oslofjorden)

JJ1

Outside Homborsund (Grimstad)

DD5

West Færder (Oslofjorden)

JJ2

Lillesand (Lillesand)

DD6

South Færder (Oslofjorden)

JJ3

Kristiansandsfjorden (Kristiansand)

EE1

Torgersøygapet (Tønsberg)

JJ4

Outside Oksøy (Kristiansand)

EE2

Husøysund (Tønsberg)

KK1

Sauda

EE3

Tønsberg indre havn (Tønsberg)

LL1

Nærøyfjorden

EE4

Vestfjorden (Tønsberg)

MM1

Beistadfjorden

EE5

Leisteinløpet (Tønsberg)

MM2

Follafoss

EE6

Vrengen (Tønsberg)

NN1

Namsos

FF1

Tjømekjæla (Tønsberg)

PP1

Kirkenes Havn(Sør Varanger)

FF2

Sandefjorden (Sandefjord)

PP2

Bøkfjorden(Sør Varanger)

FF3

Inside Svenner (Sandefjord)

 

 

Ice codes

The Norwegian Ice Service provides ice codes from ”The Baltic Sea Ice Code”. The code consists of four sections; AB-SB-TB-KB. See description below.

Please see ”The Baltic Sea Ice Code” for more detailed description and images of ice types. A complete ice report consists of an area code followed by an ice code (for example CC1 4111).


AB
 
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
/

Amount and arrangement of Sea ice.
Ice-free.
Open water.  Less than 1/10 ice.
Very open pack ice.  1/10-4/10 ice.
Open pack ice.  4/10-6/10 ice.
Close pack ice.  6/10-8/10 ice. 
Very close pack ice.  8/10-9/10 ice.
Compact pack ice.  10/10 ice. 
Fast ice with pack ice outside. Fast ice. 
Lead in very close or compact pack ice or along the fast ice edge Impossible to report

SB 
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
/
Stage of development (ice thickness)
New ice.  Less than 5cm.
Light nilas.  5-10cm.
Grey ice.  10-15cm.
Grey-white ice.  15-30cm.
White ice, first stage.  30-50cm. 
White ice, second stage.  50-70cm.
Medium first year ice.  70-120cm.
Ice predominately thinner than 15cm.
Ice predominately 15-30cm.
Ice predominately thicker than 30cm.
No info. or unable to report.
TB 
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
/
Topography or form of ice
Pancake ice, ice cakes, brash ice.  Less than 20m across.
Small ice floes.  20-100m across.
Medium ice floes.  100-500m across.
Big ice floes.  500-2000m across.
Vast or giant ice floes. More than 2000m across.
Rafted ice.
Compacted slush or shuga, or compacted brash ice.
Hummocked or ridged ice.
Thaw holes or many puddles on ice.
Rotten ice.
No information or unable to report.

KB 
0
1
2

3

4

5

6

7
8
9
/

Navigation conditions in ice.
Navigation unobstructed.
Navigation difficult or dangerous for wooden vessels without ice sheathing.
Navigation difficult for unstrengthened or low-powered vessels built of iron or steel. Navigation for wooden vessels even with ice sheathing not advisable.
Navigation without icebreaker assistance possible only for high-powered vessels of strong      construction and suitable for navigation in ice.
Navigation proceeds in lead or broken ice-channel without the assistance of an icebreaker. 
Icebreaker assistance can only be given to vessels suitable for navigation in ice and of  special size.
Icebreaker assistance can only be given to vessels of special ice class and of special size.
Icebreaker assistance can only be given to vessels after special permission.
Navigation temporarily closed.
Navigation has ceased / Unknown.

 

Ice class

Swedish – Finnish Ice Class

Det norske Veritas Ice Class

For navigation in

Istykkelse

1A Super

 

 

ICE-1A*

 

 
Extremely difficult ice-conditions Ekstreme isforhold

› 100 cm

 

 

1A

ICE-1A

Difficult ice-conditions
Vanskelige isforhold

› 50 - 100 cm

1B

ICE-1B

Moderately difficult ice-conditions Moderate isforhold

30 – 50 cm

1C

ICE-1C

Easy ice-conditions Lette isforhold

15 – 30 cm

II

 

 

ICE-C

Very easy ice-conditions
Meget lette isforhold

10 – 15 cm

Icebreaking

When the ice thickens and settles, the Norwegian Coastal Administration ensures that icebreakers clear the way. Icebreakers in Norway are private tugboats that are particularly suitable for icebreaking. During severe winters, we mobilize more resources from the Coast Guard, the Norwegian Coastal Administration and other private enterprises.

It is our responsibilty to keep the main and secondary fairways navigable. Port areas and the municipalities' sea areas are otherwise the responsibility of the municipalities / port authorities.

BIM

Norway is a member of BIM (Baltic Icebreaker Management), an international icebreaker collaboration involving Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Germany and Denmark. The cooperation seeks to increase competence and cooperation between the nations.

Contact information

ismelding@kystverket.no

Tel:  +47 37 01 97 59 / +47 37 01 97 25   

Mobile:  +47 417 65 255 / +47 900 77 605     

Fax:  +47 37 01 97 01    

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