 | |
| Company type | Aktieselskab |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transport |
| Founded | 2006[1] |
| Headquarters | Nuuk,Greenland |
Area served | Greenland |
| Products | Coastal trade and passenger ferry |
 DKK 8.1 million(2011) | |
Number of employees | 43[2] |
| Parent | Royal Arctic Line (100%) |
| Website | www |
Arctic Umiaq Line A/S (AUL), also known simply asArctic Umiaq, is apassenger andfreightshipping company operating inGreenland.[3] The company's name is derived from theKalaallisut wordumiaq, which refers to the traditionalInuit passenger boat, distinct from thekayak, which was primarily used for hunting. Arctic Umiaq provides a vital maritime connection along the western and southwestern coasts of Greenland, facilitating transport, supply, and communication between coastal settlements.[4] It is a wholly owned subsidiary ofRoyal Arctic Line.[5]
Arctic Umiaq Line traces its origins toDen Kongelige Grønlandske Handel (KGH), which was responsible for colonial trade in Greenland starting in 1774.[6] In 1986, KGH was placed under the administration of theGreenlandic government and was restructured into the state-owned enterprise KNI in 1992–1993. A subsidiary of KNI,Pilersuisoq, was tasked with passenger and freight shipping, utilizing the vessels Saqqit Ittuk, Sarfaq Ittuk, and Sarpik Ittuk, which operated in northern, central, and southern Greenland, respectively. By the following year, all ships were reassigned to routes covering the entire western coast of Greenland due to operational demand.[7]
On 1 July 1997, a political decision led to the formation of KNI Rederi, a new entity responsible for maritime transport. On 1 January 1998, freight services were transferred toRoyal Arctic Bygdeservice, a subsidiary ofRoyal Arctic Line, while KNI Rederi was separated from the KNI group to focus exclusively on passenger services, continuing as a state-owned company. In February 1998, KNI Rederi was renamed Arctic Umiaq Line.
Some sources list 2006 as the founding year of Arctic Umiaq Line, reflecting the point at which the company became distinct from its predecessors.[1] Like manyGreenlandic enterprises, it evolved from divisions of theRoyal Greenland Trade Department, which was reorganized following its 1986 transfer to theGreenland Home Rule Government.[8]
Since 2007, Arctic Umiaq Line has been operating at a deficit,[9] with the CEO Søren Grønhøj Andersen sued for mismanagement.[10] The company carried fewer passengers for the first nine months of 2009 than in the comparable period of the previous year.[11]
TheGreenland Home Rule Government has continued to provide loss guarantees to the joint owners. In fiscal 2011, this amounted toDKK 8.1 million, and Royal Arctic Line announced that loss guarantees have been secured through 2016.[1]
Ownership in The Arctic Umiaq Line was shared equally betweenAir Greenland and Royal Arctic Line until 2016. In 2016, Air Greenland sold its 50% stake in the company to Royal Arctic Line, and since July 1, 2016 the Arctic Umiaq Line has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Arctic Line.[12]
The ferry service operates seasonally from late April to early January.[13] As of 2020[update], Arctic Umiaq Line employs 43 staff members,[2] and operates a single vessel on theIlulissat–Narsaq route along the western and southwestern coast of Greenland.[14]
TheSarfaq Ittuk stops in the following towns on its coastal journey, with the approximate times for a southbound journey listed for illustration:[15]
| Name | Latitude N | Elapsed time (hours) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilulissat | 69°13′12″ | 0 | |
| Aasiaat | 68°42′35″ | 04.30 | |
| Sisimiut | 66°56′20″ | 16.00 | |
| Kangaamiut | 65°49′30″ | 24.30 | |
| Maniitsoq | 65°25′00″ | 28.30 | |
| Nuuk | 64°10′00″ | 37.30 | The longest, 2-hour stop |
| Qeqertarsuatsiaat | 63°05′20″ | 47.30 | |
| Paamiut | 61°59′40″ | 54.30 | |
| Arsuk | 61°10′30″ | 61.15 | |
| Qaqortoq | 60°43′20″ | 70.00 | The ship turns northeast at Qaqortoq, sailing to Narsaq viaTunulliarfik Fjord |
| Narsaq | 60°54′44″ | 73.00 | Summer only |
Until 2008, the service had been extended toNarsarsuaq during summer.[16]: 102
The only vessel currently in operation is M/SSarfaq Ittuk (IMO 8913899).[17] Built in 1992,[17] the ship was renovated and upgraded in 2000 at theGdańsk Shipyard inGdańsk,Poland.[18]
The vessel has a passenger capacity of 249, including 52 two-bed cabins and 145[18] communal rollout beds (compartment or couchette-style) located on the two lower decks.[18]
It measures 72.8 metres in overall length, has a gross tonnage of 2,118, and adeadweight (freight) capacity of 163 tonnes.
M/SSarpik Ittuk—– which formerly operated routes in theUpernavik Archipelago, theUummannaq Fjord region, andDisko Bay.[16]: 198–199 – was sold in 2006 to Nova Cruising, a company based in theBahamas.[19]
As of 2010 Disko Bay is served byDiskoline on the governmental contract, whereas transport services betweenUpernavik Archipelago and theUummannaq Fjord region are provided by infrequent cargo/ferry ships of Royal Arctic Line.[20]
