Safety, restrictions & Radio Silence
Polar bears and firearms
Due to the risk of meeting a polar bear, you must always bring along a firearm and flare gun when you leave the settlement. If you see a polar bear close to town or inside town, call the watchman and keep a safe distance, preferably from inside.
Kings Bay AS holds safety courses in how to react if you meet a polar bear and how to handle and use firearms. Firearms must be unloaded and the bolt must be in open position when carried in the settlement. It is not permitted to carry loaded firearms in town. Firearms must be stored in a locked weapon cabinet where available. Contact the reception for details.
Medical service and emergency
Book an appointment – nurse@kingsbay.no or call 790 27 274
In case of acute illness / injury weekdays 08:00–16:30 contact by phone or radio
Outside working hours contact the watchman: Call 9 (phone)
Watchman: call 9
or dial 72 38
When the Kings Bay reception is closed, contact the Kings Bay watchman if you observe any of the following:
- Polar bear inside or close to town
- Fire, water leakage, or other situations that can lead to danger
- In case of illness, accidents, or other emergency situations
If you are out of town and need to call watchman: dial 79 02 72 38
Typhoon
Ny-Ålesund has a typhoon that can be heard all over the city. This is only used in special cases and if it sounds, everyone should meet outside the service building, by the main entrance. There you will be called by name for a counting of who’s present.
POLAR BEARS
If a polar bear is observed close to Ny-Ålesund (in or close to the red zone on this map), and reported to the watchman, the watchman will notify the reception. The reception/watchman will send out an e-mail with polar bear information to all institutions present and to Kings Bay staff and will put up a notification on the whiteboard in the reception area.
The watchman will also send out a short warning to all institution leaders/on duty personnel (via the digital radio system).
“All stations….All stations….All stations. This is the Watchman, this is the reception/Watchman. Polar bear sighted …(location)……, Polar bear sighted …(location)…….”
RADIO SILENCE
Ny-Ålesund is a radio silent settlement.
Use of wireless equipment, included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are not allowed in Ny-Ålesund and 20 km in circumference. These functions search frequency ranges and interfere with scientific instruments.
Read more about the restrictions and possibilities for exceptions on the Ny-Ålesund Research Station site: Restrictions on the use of radio transmitters.
Turn off WI-FI and Bluetooth on ALL your devices. Included mobile phones, lap top, cameras, digital wrist watches etc. Turn on flight mode.
Nature reserve and national parks
Restricted areas within the settlement
Traffic in winter
Airport
Prohibited to drive or walk on the airstrip at any time! When red light; Stop! Also when walking!
Polarbear zone
Polar bear measures will be taken inside red zone
Always bring a firearm and a flare gun when traveling outside Ny-Ålesund
Weapons should be unloaded/empty inside blue zone