Norwegian Cruising Guide

The Recreational Mariner's Guide

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4. Jan Mayen

  • Why

    Last Updated:

    Most of the information in the Svalbard chapters will apply to Jan Mayen as both are high Arctic environments. We have added the following specifics for Jan Mayen.

    The volcanic island of Jan Mayen lies at about the same latitude as Nordkapp in Norway, but its position, 290 nm northwest of Iceland and 250 nm east of Greenland, is as isolated as it sounds—a destination for the serious seeker of out-of-the-way places. A passage there is in league with those to Greenland and Antarctica. Only very experienced sailors with a sturdy offshore boat should attempt to go there.

    Jan Mayen is 53-kms long and barren. It is dominated by Beerenberg (alt 2277 m), an impressive glaciated volcanic cone which is one of the largest in the world. It last erupted in 1985.

  • Preparation

    Last Updated:

    Den Norske Los, Vol. 7, available online, published in both Norwegian and English, has a separate chapter on Jan Mayen, in which the coastline is described in considerable detail. Note that this volume has not been updated since 2018 and so does not deal with the Nature Reserve limitations.

    Challenges

    There are no SAR facilities on Jan Mayen and it is outside of helicopter range, so you are on your own when visiting there.

    Only very experienced sailors with a sturdy offshore boat should attempt the passage to Jan Mayen.

    The weather is unpredictable and potentially severe, the presence of Beerenburg can cause unpredictable and violent katabatic winds, and you will have to deal with the fact that there are no sheltered all-weather anchorages. Though some shelter can be found on the lee side of the island, even in moderate weather you can expect to find surf on the beach.

    As the sea temperature is low, wearing survival suits and carrying equipment in fully waterproof bags is advisable for the dinghy ride to shore. 

    Although in clear weather Beerenberg can be seen from a great distance, it is often obscured by mist or rain. Fog is present as much as 20% of the time in the summer months.

    Ice

    The ice-free season at Jan Mayen usually occurs between June and November, except when the polar storis (multi-year) pack ice drifts out from east Greenland, keeping its waters clogged with ice until much later in the spring.

    Tidewater glacier

    Based on this, sailing there before late June or early July when, as long as the sea temperature remains above 3°C, you are unlikely to see any new ice forming, is not recommended.

    Jan Mayen does have several tidewater glaciers but we are not aware that berg ice causes any problems with anchoring or navigation in the area. 

    Isbjørner (Polar Bears)

    Polar bears are only found on Jan Mayen in the winter.

    Chartering

    Seil Norge organizes skippered sails to Jan Mayen, with a focus on climbing Beerenberg, leaving from and returning to Svalbard.

  • Rules and Regulations

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    Governance

    Jan Mayen is considered part of the Kingdom of Norway and, since 1995, has been administered by Statsforvalteren i Nordland (The County Governor of Nordland).

    Protocol

    Permission

    If you are planning to stay at Jan Mayen for less than 24 hours, you can contact the Jan Mayen Station Commander in advance. (Note that they use the same time zone as mainland Norway, not their geographic time zone.) If you are planning to stay for longer than 24 hours and up to 1 week, you must get advance permission from Chief of Police Nordland, and if longer than 1 week you need to get advance permission from the Norwegian Ministry of Justice. All contact information can be found on the Jan Mayen website linked to above.

    Support

    Jan Mayen is uninhabited except for the staff of the military and meteorological station located there. Note that the station is not able to provide services (fuel, provisions, etc.) to visiting sailors and is not, in general, open to visitors.

    VHF channels 16 and 60 are monitored by Coastal Radio North through a satellite link.

    Nature Reserve

    In November 2010 the island and surrounding waters to 12 nm offshore was designated a nature reserve, with no landing permitted except for two small areas adjacent to the anchorages of Kvalrossbukta and Båtvika. There is a list of rules and regulations, posted on the Jan Mayen website linked to above, in regard to the nature reserve.