FECN14 CWIS 181800
THIRTY DAY ICE OUTLOOK FOR THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL ARCTIC FOR MID-JULY TO MID-AUGUST ISSUED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN ICE SERVICE ON 18 JULY 2014.
THE NEXT 30 DAY OUTLOOK WILL BE ISSUED ON 1 AUGUST 2014.
Summary for July 1 to 16.
Average air temperatures were above normal values over most locations except near normal from Queen Maud Gulf to Peel Sound and along the Alaskan Coast west of Barter Island. Ice melt was near normal over most locations except 2 to 3 weeks earlier than normal over the eastern section of the Beaufort Sea and in Amundsen Gulf.
Weather forecast for July 18 to August 15.
Average air temperatures will be near normal values over most locations except above normal over the Central Arctic.
Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula.
July 18 to 31. Open water.
August 1 to 15. Ice free.
Mackenzie Bay to Cape Bathurst.
July 18 to 31. Open water.
August 1 to 15. Ice free.
Beaufort Sea south of 75°N.
July 18 to 31.
Open drift to close pack first-year ice along the western shore of Banks Island becoming very open to open drift ice during the fourth week. Open water within 60 miles west of Banks Island, 100 miles north of Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula and 60 miles north of Barter Island. Within 120 miles of the Alaskan Coast west of Barter Island open drift to close pack first-year ice with a trace of old ice becoming very open to open drift ice during the fourth week. North of 72°N close to very close pack old ice.
August 1 to 15.
Ice melting completely along the western shore of Banks Island in early August. Open water within 60 miles west of Banks Island, 100 miles north of Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula and 60 miles north of Barter Island. Within 120 miles of the Alaskan Coast west of Barter Island very open to open drift first-year ice with a trace of old ice melting completely during the second week. North of 72°N close to very close pack old ice becoming open drift to close pack ice west of 140°W during the second week.
Arctic Ocean north of 75°N.
July 18 to August 15.
Close to very close pack old ice.
Cape Lisburne to Point Barrow.
July 18 to 31.
South of Wainwright open water. North of Wainwright open drift to close pack first- year ice with 1 tenth of old ice.
August 1 to 15.
South of Wainwright open water. North of Wainwright very open to open drift first- year ice with 1 tenth of old ice melting completely during the second week.
Amundsen Gulf.
July 18 to 31.
Very open to open drift first-year ice over the extreme eastern section and near Prince of Wales Strait becoming very open drift ice during the fourth week. Elsewhere open water.
August 1 to 15.
Ice along the extreme eastern section and near Prince of Wales Strait melting completely during the first week then open water. Elsewhere ice free.
Coronation Gulf.
July 18 to 31.
Over the western section very open to open drift first-year ice becoming very open drift ice during the fourth week. Over the eastern section close to very close pack first-year ice becoming open drift to close pack ice during the fourth week.
August 1 to 15.
Ice melting completely during the first week then open water.
Queen Maud Gulf.
July 18 to 31.
Over the extreme eastern section consolidated first-year ice fracturing during the fourth week then close to very close pack ice. Elsewhere close to very close pack first-year ice becoming open drift to close pack ice during the fourth week.
August 1 to 15.
Over the western section very open to open drift first-year ice becoming very open drift ice during the second week. Over the eastern section open drift to close pack first-year ice becoming very open to open drift ice during the second week.
Victoria Strait.
July 18 to 31.
Close to very close pack first-year ice with a trace of old ice.
August 1 to 15.
Close to very close pack first-year ice with a trace of old ice becoming open drift to close pack ice during the second week.
Larsen Sound.
July 18 to August 15.
Close to very close pack first-year ice with up to 2 tenths of old ice
Peel Sound.
July 18 to 31.
Consolidated first-year ice with up to 2 tenths of old ice fracturing during the fourth week.
August 1 to 15.
Close to very close pack first-year ice with up to 2 tenths of old ice. Ice over the northern section becoming open drift to close pack ice during the second week.
M’Clintock Channel.
July 18 to 31.
Consolidated first-year ice with a trace of old ice except for an area of consolidated old and first year ice over the central section. Ice fracturing during the fourth week.
August 1 to 15.
Close to very close pack old and first-year ice.
Viscount Melville Sound.
July 18 to 31.
Consolidated first-year ice with up to 2 tenths of old ice over the western section. Consolidated old and first-year ice over the eastern section. Ice fracturing during the fourth week.
August 1 to 15.
Close to very close pack first-year ice with up to 2 tenths of old ice over the western section. Close to very close pack old and first-year ice over the eastern section.
M’Clure Strait.
July 18 to 31.
Very open drift old ice over the western third. Over the central section close to very close pack first-year ice with up to 4 tenths of old ice. Over the eastern third consolidated first-year ice with up to 4 tenths of old ice fracturing during the fourth week.
August 1 to 15.
Very open to open drift old ice over the western third. Elsewhere close to very close pack first-year ice with up to 4 tenths of old ice becoming open drift to close pack ice during the second week.


An update on international red tape.

It appears there is ONE piece of paper that is missing for our ship. Silversea had full clearance from Moscow signed by the Prime Minister but why this "one piece of paper" was not included it seems no one knows.

Ngaire, while I have been unable to do any of these expeditions cruises on Silversea, for one reason or the other (being green with envy, of course) now I see why you like to "pave" the way, so to speak, for your clients for new ships and operators. You have done so much research into River cruises, for instance, and insisted on doing the same before you escorted our first African Safari trip.

Please know that we appreciate these "advance" trips to clear the way for both the cruise lines, the operators, and for us, to open up new travel arenas for all of us!
I know you make lemonade wherever in the world you are, and will just go with the flow.

In the port of Providence in Chukotka tourists from a cruise ship Silver Discoverer forbidden to go ashore, despite the visa and permission from the government of the Russian Federation on the implementation of the cruise. Corresponding ban came from the FSB. On board are 85 foreign tourists, most of whom - American retirees. The company "Pacific Network" sent a letter to Dmitry Medvedev to be allowed to continue the cruise.

Chukotka banned carry cruise ship program Silver Discoverer, which arrived on Sunday in Port Providence. On board were 85 tourists from the U.S., UK, Germany, Australia, most of whom are pensioners. From July 27 to August 1, they had to take a cruise along the coast of Chukotka and go ashore to visit the villages of Chukotka for tourism purposes. The company "Pacific Network", the general agent in Russia for foreign cruise ships, has requested to enforce the cruise flights to Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Corresponding letters also sent to the Ministry of Transport and Rosturizm. At present the vessel Silver Discoverer, arriving from American Dutch Harbor, stands at the port of Providence.

Twelve-day cruise, one of the parts of the program which is to visit Chukotka, was to end in Alaska. All 85 tourists on board, there is a current Russian tourist visas. Bound for the vessel was opened, passengers was designed to enter the Russian Federation. But the ship tourists get no results.

"While the program is not running. Tourists should visit one of the Chukchi villages, where they organized a concert, visiting the museum, walk and tea. After 1 August cruise was to return to the shores of Alaska, where tourists also waiting for entertainment "- says" Gazeta.ru "Director of Legal Affairs' Pacific Network" Irina Nekrashevich. It should be noted that the cost of this cruise starts from 10 thousand dollars.

According to the head "Pacific Network" Sergei Frolov, the entire cruise is designed for 12 days, of which seven have passed. "In Alaska, the vessel must change the passengers and return to Russia for a two week cruise. Besides that we have the current cruise breaks and next also comes into question. Just as questionable gathering of tourists on the beach with two vessels that go behind Silver Discoverer. Also stated that these tourists will not come ashore, "- said Frolov. According to him, on this route every year the company makes six or seven cruises.

"The situation is close to an international scandal and subject to considerable financial risk for foreign and Russian side," - said in a statement the company "Pacific Network."

The reason for the ban on the gathering of tourists from the ship began to permit rejections all the tourists in the border zone of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. And failure not only touched the vessel Silver Discoverer, but followed by a cruise ship Hanseatic. That is to disembark was banned 300 tourists on board the two ships. Chukotka authorities claim that the bodies authorized to make decisions on the harmonization of entry and residence of foreign nationals and stateless persons on the territory of Chukotka, decided to refuse entry.

In a letter addressed to Medvedev, said that the border department of the FSB Russia Chukotka Autonomous District confirms that all the necessary documents to obtain a badge for entry into the border zone for foreign tourists ship Silver Discoverer and Hanseatic were obtained. At the same FSB refers to a letter from the Federal Tourism Agency May 13, 2014, which recommended not to perform cruises. Despite the fact that such flights allowed the Government.

"Applications from companies organizing cruise tours, come somewhere for six months. Application of the "Pacific Network" Received November 18, 2013. She was sent for approval to the competent authorities. As a result of a letter from the Federal Tourism Agency May 13, 2014 agreed on a number of cruises.

For a particular vessel Silver Discoverer, question, cruise was agreed only 2 to July 10. That cruise that passes now, has not been agreed, so any problems. Agreement by competent authorities, we are talking about border security, so the question to them, "- explained" to the Newspaper "in the Federal Tourism Agency. Office now also trying to solve this issue, as there were numerous complaints about this cruise.

"There is an ancient order, when travel and research vessels must coordinate their actions with Rosturizm. We always put in their fame. But their agreement does not matter as there is a government order. Current actions, we still associate with the actions of Ukraine, more than to anything we can not tie it. We do not understand why the government did not comply with the orders, "- said Frolov.

According to him, 60 days before the cruise staff of all documents sent through the administration of Chukotka in the FSB, which issues permits for the gathering of Chukotka. "All this was done. But on Friday they informed the governor of Chukotka administration that they will not issue badges because they were so encouraged by higher authority based in Moscow ", - said Frolov.

He said that the governor of Chukotka, sent an urgent telegram about the situation Dmitry Medvedev.

These cruises, including Chukotka, organized since 1998. Since 2008, the Russian government has published an annual special orders, which allow foreign vessels with tourists in settlements located in areas of internal waters and territorial sea of the Russian Federation, including Chukotka. In particular, tourists visit the National Park "Beringia" Reserve "Wrangel Island" and national Chukchi villages.

"Foreign shipowners on behalf of the ship's captain declared marine protest to the Russian authorities of the prohibition on cruising. Actions of the Russian Border Guard Service in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug perceived foreign party as the response by the Russian authorities on a number of economic sanctions the EU and the United States imposed on our country, in response to the situation in Ukraine is not conducive to peace and normalization of the international situation, "- said in the letter. Company asks to allow further implementation of foreign ships cruise flights with tourists, with overhangs and drop offs at authorized points for tourists who participate in the cruise.

cyrillic text didn't work.

What is the FSB, Marc?

Liner passengers banned from Alaska to disembark in Chukotka
text: / Infox.ru published July 29 4:22 '14
Source: fotobank.ru
 
More than 60 foreign tourists arriving in Chukotka on a cruise ship from Alaska, could not go ashore because this route has not been agreed.

As reported by RIA Novosti on Tuesday, chairman of the Sports and Tourism Regional Government Irina Ryabukhina, situation due to misunderstanding on the part of the Federal Tourism Agency. "In November last year, the cruise company has sent a request for information on the resolution of a given route Rosturizm. In February, the Russian government adopted a decree on the resolution of these cruises, which implies a settlement of the cruise program. However, on May 13 Rosturizm receives a document that does not recommend cruises. Based on this document comes FSB letter, which says that the passage of the ship is not allowed "- said Ryabukhina.

She noted that the Chukotka Governor Roman Kopin sent telegrams to Rosturizm and power structures. The ship was on the wharf about 13.00 to 20.00 local time on July 28. All this time, 63 foreign tourists were not allowed to go ashore. 20.00 After the vessel has received permission to retreat and came out of the borders of Russia.

According to RIA Novosti regional FSB Border Guard, July 25 against department received information about the inconsistency of the route of foreign cruise liner with Rosturizm. "The Host - local cruise company - was promptly informed that the gathering of tourists to the territory of Chukotka Autonomous Area is not allowed. However, on July 28 in Providence Bay liner went. And though pogranrezhima violations have been identified, but due to lack of permission of stay on the territory of Russian tourists ashore was banned, "- said the agency interlocutor.

He added that on July 31 in Chukotka will approach another cruise liner foreign Hanseatic, route which is also not consistent. "Accordingly, the situation is repeated. A ship may be in the territorial waters of the Russian Federation, in particular, off the coast of Chukotka, but foreign tourists stay with this cruise is not allowed. In this pre-cruise company notified of this situation. In addition, in August and September will approach liners Pacific Venus (Japan) and El Astral (France). Rosturizm also confirms their route, and the FSB will not allow tourists staying here "- said the agency interlocutor.