CCGS Amundsen, CA

CCGS Amundsen is a 98-m long scientific icebreaker with a pool of specialised scientific equipment. Amundsen Science, a nonprofit organization responsible for the scientific mandate of the research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen, coordinates the deployment of the icebreaker for science in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard, maintains the ship’s pool of scientific innovative equipment, and provides financial, technical and logistical support to user programs.

Contribution to POLARIN key research challenges:1,2,4,5,6

Contact:

Alexandre Forest, Executive Director: alexandre.forest[at]as.ulaval.ca
Anissa Merzouk, marine research Coordinator: anissa.merzouk[at]as.ulaval.ca

Website�https://amundsenscience.com/

Location

CCGS Amundsen home port: Quebec City. Amundsen Science host institution: Université Laval, Quebec City.�

Facilities

CCGS Amundsen includes a comprehensive pool of 85 instrumentation systems and 24 laboratories to accommodate the needs of oceanographers, marine geologists and geophysicists, marine ecologists, and atmosphere & sea ice specialists.

Staff Capacity: Technicians+scientists: 39 scientists (+41 Canadian Coast Guard Crew).
The ship is fully self-sufficient while at sea (water, waste management, electricity, bathrooms, laundry, etc.). Cabins are in double occupancy, meals are prepared and provided by the CG’s cook and their staff.
Equipments: In addition to the ship itself and the navigational expertise of its personnel, the vessel includes a comprehensive pool of 85 instrumentation systems valued at over $50 million that supports the needs of multidisciplinary research of all kinds.
Communications: Internet access (Starlink), satellite and Iridium phones, Intranet.
Science disciplines: The scientific versatility of the Amundsen facilitates physical, chemical, and biological oceanography, paleo-oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, marine ecology, atmospheric and ocean color sciences, as well as epidemiology and human health research.�

Services offered�

AMUNDSEN includes full support from Amundsen Science which manages user programme fees, operates, and maintains the ship’s pool of scientific equipment, and provides logistical and technical support for user programmes. This includes full support for mobilisation and demobilisation, oceanographic sampling operations at sea (incl. CTD-rosette, plankton, coring, ROV & AUV, moorings and metocean, and sea ice).

What is included in the Access

Unit of access: RI/day

Modalities of access offered: In-person access

Access to the ship, its entire pool of scientific equipment, and logistical/technical support from Amundsen Science on land and at sea. The cost of transport of equipment and personnel to the site of mobilisation is covered by POLARIN .

The typical duration of work will vary from 14 to 28 days. The user demand will be evaluated by the Amundsen Science User Advisory Committee along with other ship-time applications to evaluate its feasibility. A representative of the POLARIN management team would sit on the committee.

Availability for access in the TA Call 2024

6 working days for a user group of 6-10 members.�

User teams including one Canadian partner might be able to access an extension of funding days though internal (Canadian) funding. Contact the vessel operator for more information.

With some flexibility depending on project constraints, projects could be implemented:

2026: June to October
2027: August to October **(note dry dock year from January to July)
2028: June to October

Operational area: Everywhere in the Canadian Archipelago and adjacent Arctic seas.

Time frame for access preparations

December to May, and throughout the annual field season (June to October).�

Permits, licenses and training

Research permits are required in many areas of the North to conduct ship-based and shore-based scientific activities during the annual expedition. The preparation and submission of research permit applications is centralized at Amundsen Science for all user programs and research teams.
Below is a list of research permits secured by Amundsen Science for activities conducted during the annual expeditions. Depending on the itinerary and types of research activities planned in a given year, additional permits may be obtained for other areas (e.g. American waters, Parks Canada Newfoundland Region). The application process is time sensitive to ensure all the required permits are granted in advance of the departure for the expedition and arrival on the site(s).�

Québec (including Nunavik)
– Nunavik Marine Region
– MPO Permis de pêche scientifique
– Parcs Canada Parc marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent�

Newfoundland and Labrador (including Nunatsiavut)
– DFO Experimental License for Waters of the Region of Newfoundland and Labrador
– Approval to Conduct Science Activities in Marine Refuges
– Nunatsiavut Government Approval Letter

Arctic Region
– DFO License to Fish for Scientific Purposes in the Central/Arctic Region
– Marine protected Area

Nunavut
– Nunavut Planning Commission Conformity Letter
– Nunavut Research Institute Scientific Research License
– Parks Canada Multi-Year Research Permit
– Canadian Wildlife Service – Access to Migratory Birds Sanctuaries and National Wildlife Areas�

Northwest Territories
– Environmental Impact Screening Committee Approval
– Aurora Research Institute Scientific Research Licence

Greenland
– Government of Greenland Survey License
– Vessel Diplomatic Clearance

Certifications and trainings pertaining to the ship’s safety and emergency procedures, as well as safety procedures during science operations are mandatory for all personnel boarding the ship. These trainings are provided onboard the ship by the Coast Guard crew and/or Amundsen Science staff. Health and safety procedures are available in the Canadian Coast Guard’s Fleet Safety Manual and Amundsen Science’s Health and Safety Manual on the ship and on our website.
For some activities, additional training and certifications need to be obtained before the expedition. Boarding of the helicopter for scientific purposes requires the helicopter underwater egress training (HUET).

Piloting an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) requires a series of trainings and certifications, which need to be completed and provided to Amundsen Science and the Coast Guard well in advance of boarding the ship.

Hazardous Materials, including radioisotopes and compressed gases, are routinely used onboard the Amundsen. Safety is the first priority in all aspects of storage, handling and disposal of Hazardous Materials on the ship. Handling of hazardous materials requires a Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHIMS) certification or equivalent, which science personnel can obtain through their home institutions. Guides for use of Hazardous Materials and Radioisotopes onboard the CCGS Amundsen based on National Standards (WHMIS, Nuclear Commission) are distributed and made available online for expedition participants. These guides are mandatory reading for all seagoing scientific personnel who must also have the required training and certifications.

All participants are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct detailing expected professionalism and acceptable behaviors during the scientific expedition. Participants are required to sign an acknowledgement form regarding the Code of Conduct.

Medical guidelines

The CCG Familiarization Guide includes a Statement of Medical Fitness form, which all participants must complete and sign. A health assessment by a medical professional and proof of medical fitness is necessary only under certain conditions, which are outlined in the form. The ship’s Medical Officer also conducts health interviews with science personnel at the start of each Leg of the expedition.�