Longyearbyen is the administrative center of Svalbard, with a permanent population of about 2,000 people. It is located on the west coast of the island. It is the most northerly city in the world.
The Port of Longyearbyen completely ices in in the winter. It is the main logistic point for the cruise industry and for cargo to the different settlements in Svalbard. Research vessels, charter yachts and personal yachts visit the port each season.
Longyearbyen is a tourist destination city with museums, shops, restaurants and pubs. There are logistic services for vessels such as provisions, electricity, fuel and water. Skilled local businesses can offer support and services to most challenges mariners face here above 78 degrees north.
Longyearbyen port is exposed to drifting ice and weather. Docked vessels should have available crew to move the vessel at the request of Port Control. Visiting vessels provide contact information to Port Control via GoMarina.
When sailing in the Arctic, it is especially important to consider the long distances, harsh conditions, lack of infrastructure and the need to be self-sufficient. After the the International Maritime Organization (IMO) received a petition from some Polar countries to include non-SOLAS vessels (i.e. small sailing boats) in the IMO Polar Code (designed for large commercial ships), an effort to avoid this happening and to maintain free sailing in these regions was made by a group of experienced high latitude sailors. They have written a voluntary code of practice called the Polar Yacht Guide. Specifically designed for yachts, it is intended to supplement existing guides and pilot books and will hopefully be more effective than mandatory legislation. It is a very useful resource for preparing vessels to sail in these remote waters and can be downloaded for free from the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation or World Sailing.
The Association of Arctic Expedition and Cruiser Operators publishing guidelines for those sailors contemplating sailing to this remote location.
78°13.68’N, 15°36.58’E (pontoon)
Last updated: August 2026
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