Norwegian Government Enhances Northern Preparedness

In its proposed Norwegian 2020 state budget, the Norwegian government proposes enhancing emergency preparedness in the High North through establishing a rescue helicopter base in Tromsø as well as establishing HF-radio connectivity in the northern sea areas all the way up to the North Pole.

- We aim for the new helicopter base to be operating by 2022. There will be a tender for bids quite soon for the establishing of the new rescue helicopter base, says Minister of Public Security Ingvild Smines Tybring-Gjedde in a press release.

Extended HF connectivity in the High North will provide more secure shipping for vessels from all nations operating in the Arctic. Such connectivity is assumed to be established within a fairly short period of time.