About us

Safety and standards

Boreal Yachting operates commercially certified vessels under Norwegian maritime regulation, to AECO guidelines in the Arctic, and to Sysselmesteren regulations in Svalbard. Skippers hold commercial certificates of competency, vessels carry equipment rated for cold water, and the skipper decides the route on the day, based on weather, ice and the people on board.

Last updated 11 September 2026

What does AECO membership require?

We are a member of AECO, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators. AECO sets operational guidelines for expedition traffic in the Arctic, and members are expected to follow them across their whole operation, not only on flagship voyages.

In practice that means agreed minimum distances from wildlife and rules on how to withdraw if an animal changes behaviour; site-specific guidelines for landing sites, including where you may walk and where you may not; rules on cultural heritage, which in Svalbard means leaving every trace of historic activity untouched; and guidance on visiting settlements so that communities are not overwhelmed by visitors.

Crew are briefed on the current guidelines before each Arctic season, and guests are briefed on board before the first landing.

What regulations apply in Svalbard?

Svalbard is governed by Sysselmesteren, the Governor of Svalbard, and the rules there are stricter than anywhere else we sail. We have operated in the archipelago since 2008 and plan every voyage against the current regulations for the season in question.

Operators must notify and obtain clearance for tourist activity, hold search-and-rescue insurance or a guarantee covering the cost of a rescue operation, and comply with restrictions on where vessels may go, which vary by protected area and by season. Anyone travelling outside the settlements must have means of scaring and, as a last resort, defending against polar bears. On our voyages that responsibility sits with the crew and guides, who are trained and licensed for it. Guests do not carry firearms.

Landings are planned with a bear watch, and a landing is cancelled or moved when conditions or wildlife make it inappropriate. Regulations for Svalbard are periodically revised; the requirements applying to a specific voyage are confirmed in writing before departure.

How are vessels maintained and equipped for safety?

Our vessels are commercially certified for the areas in which they sail, and are surveyed and maintained on a set schedule by our own technical team in Tromsø. Safety equipment is serviced and re-certified at the intervals required by the certifying authority.

Vessels carry liferafts, lifejackets and immersion or survival suits sized for everyone on board, EPIRB, VHF and satellite communications, radar and electronic navigation with paper chart backup, fire detection and suppression, bilge and damage-control equipment, and a medical kit specified for the area of operation. Boats sailing Svalbard carry additional equipment appropriate to remoteness and ice.

Individual vessel specifications, including heating, safety and navigation equipment, are listed on each vessel page.

What training and certification do crew hold?

Skippers hold commercial certificates of competency valid for the vessel and the waters sailed, together with sea survival and first aid training. Crew take part in regular drills covering man overboard, fire, abandon ship and medical response. Mountain guides on ski products hold recognised guiding certification.

New skippers sail as crew on our boats before taking command, and Svalbard voyages are led by skippers with prior experience of the archipelago. Meet the crew.

Who decides when weather changes a plan?

Plans change. That is not a failure of planning in the Arctic — it is planning. Wind, sea state, visibility, ice and avalanche conditions decide where a boat can go on a given day, and those conditions can change within hours.

The skipper has final authority on the vessel's movements, at all times. On ski products, the guide decides what is skied and whether a slope is entered, using local avalanche forecasts and observations on the day. Neither decision is negotiable, and neither is influenced by what was hoped for when the week was booked.

What this means for a guest is simple. A published route is an intention, not a timetable. Most weeks reach most of what was planned, some weeks reach something better, and occasionally a crossing is postponed or an anchorage swapped. The crew explains what is changing and why, before it happens.

What insurance and medical arrangements are required?

We carry operator liability and vessel insurance, and hold the cover required for Svalbard operations. Documentation is available for an agency duty-of-care assessment on request.

Guests must arrange their own travel insurance, including medical treatment, repatriation and cancellation. For Svalbard and for ski products we require cover that includes search and rescue and the activity in question; off-piste ski touring is excluded by many standard policies, so check the wording.

Tell us before the voyage about medical conditions, medication, allergies and dietary requirements. We are hours from a hospital, and sometimes further. Knowing in advance lets us plan properly rather than improvise, and it stays confidential to the crew who need it.

Questions about a specific voyage are best asked directly. Speak to us.