When preparing a budget for access to the UK Arctic Research Station, please ensure you contact the Station Manager in the first instance. The following costs may need to be included in your budget:
- Flights from the UK to Ny-Alesund, via Longyearbyen. We recommend booking flexible tickets for flights UK/home nation – Longyearbyen – UK/home nation. Please note, Luftransport operate the flights from Longyearbyen to Ny-Alesund, usually on Mondays and Thursdays. The cost of these flights can be found in the 2024 Kings Bay price list.
- Accommodation enroute to Ny-Alesund. Due to the availability of Luftransport flights to and from Ny-Alesund, it is sometimes necessary to stay over in Oslo or Longyearbyen. These costs should be met by the project.
- Kings Bay accommodation. Whilst every effort will be made to provide one of the free bedrooms at the UK Arctic Research Station it is not always possible due to demand and therefore we recommend that you include Kings Bay accommodation costs in your budget.
- Meals – meals are not provided at the station, these are provided by Kings Bay in the main mess hall.
- Medicals and dental check-ups – The BAS Operations Team will send all field team members medical details forms which will then be assessed by the British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit (BASMU). As part of this process, all field team members will also be required to complete a medical and dental check-up. The cost of the medicals for each field team member will need to be met by the project. Medical details forms and medicals should be completed at least six weeks prior to departure from the UK.
- Rifle training – this is mandatory for anyone wishing to carry out fieldwork in Ny-Alesund to protect against polar bear attack. Because polar bears can pose a danger, field teams must include at least two members who are rifle trained, (the Station Manager will discuss your plans in detail and will assess the total number of persons who should receive training). In 2021 the Norwegian Government imposed new rifle laws in Svalbard. Rifle bearers must hold a permit provided by the Svalbard Governor’s office. Permit applications, which can take up to 6 – 8 weeks to process, must be accompanied by a police background check (issued in your home nation) and proof of rifle training. Because of the 6 – 8 week permit application lead time, the BAS Operations Group have arranged a course that can be held at various shooting ranges in the UK. No other UK course is acceptable to the Svalbard Governor or BAS. Please contact the Station Manager in the first instance who will discuss details and costs and help to arrange a course for you. Please note that course, rifle permitting and police background check costs must be met by the individual/project.
- Equipment (that is not provided by the station) – for example skidoos, sledges etc.
- Shipping of equipment/freight
For a full list of costs, please see the Kings Bay price list – this is usually updated every November for the following year. Please note that all costs in this list are in Norwegian Krone.