Arctic Ocean, 18 September 2026

Preparations begin long before departure

Planning an expedition takes a long time. The work includes calls for proposals, selection processes and workshops, as well as developing an understanding of the researchers’ needs. One of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat’s most important tasks is to determine how best to support the researchers and organise the logistics that enable them to make the most of the expedition.

Throughout the winter, the Secretariat’s technicians prepare winches, containers, laboratory equipment, sensors, and much more that researchers need to collect data and samples.

Despite these extensive preparations, instruments always arrive that need to be adapted on site. This can require a great deal of work at the start of an expedition, and the teams on board help to find ingenious solutions. Oden’s crew have extensive experience of repairing broken equipment, constructing new mounts and making all kinds of adjustments.

Life aboard an icebreaker involves constant shaking, noise and vibration. Installing sensitive scientific instruments on a mast or railing under such conditions requires particular skill and experience.

A wide range of expertise on board

The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat is a relatively small government agency that has conducted expeditions with the icebreaker Oden since 1991. That year, Oden and the German icebreaker Polarstern became the first non-nuclear-powered vessels to reach the North Pole. Since then, numerous expeditions have built up years of experience on board.

In addition to the Secretariat’s own technicians, we recruit temporary technical staff for the expeditions. Some have taken part in many expeditions, while others are joining us for the first time.

We also have a pool of medical personnel, including nurses and doctors. For each expedition, we recruit a meteorologist who also serves as an air traffic controller for helicopters and drones. The helicopter operator is contracted by the Secretariat, but its personnel also become part of the “Polar team”, as we are often known on board.

The Polar team also includes the artist and teacher selected in years when the expedition schedule allows us to offer these scholarships. The Secretariat also recruits a researcher to serve as coordinator of the research school on board.

This year, it has been a privilege to work with such knowledgeable, helpful and positive people. Everyone appreciates the magic of spending time in the high Arctic – and everyone tries to contribute wherever they can.

The expedition nears its end

We are now making the final preparations before leaving the ice. Today, we remained stationary in the ice so that we could pack and prepare Oden for the voyage to Longyearbyen. Oden was enveloped in dense fog for much of the day. Suddenly, visibility improved – at the very moment a polar bear came walking right past us. Shortly afterwards, the fog closed in around Oden once again.

We have now begun our journey towards the ice edge and Svalbard. It is time. The Arctic Ocean is slowly beginning to freeze even between the large ice floes, making the ice increasingly difficult to navigate. The sun has also set during the past few evenings, giving us some magical sunsets.

Text: Åsa Lindgren, Expedition Coordinator