Arctic Coast Guards Gather in Tromsø – Training for Cooperation and Preparedness in the High North

From April 8–10, Arctic Guardian 2025 will take place in the Tromsø region. The exercise brings together coast guard resources from seven Arctic nations: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. It also marks the conclusion of Norway’s 2023–2025 chairship of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF).
The ACGF is an independent, informal, and operationally focused forum – not bound by treaty – dedicated to promoting safe, secure, and environmentally responsible maritime activity in the Arctic.
During the exercise, participating units will respond to a mock scenario involving a collision between a cruise ship and an oil tanker, testing their ability to coordinate a mass rescue operation and conduct a marine environmental clean-up in challenging Arctic conditions. Additional training will focus on coordination between maritime and air assets, and include a demonstration of radiological preparedness in a maritime context.
– “In a rapidly changing Arctic, it is essential that we train together, build trust, and understand each other’s capabilities. Arctic Guardian 2025 reflects our shared professionalism and responsibility for safety and stewardship in the High North,” says Commodore Øyvind Dunsæd, Head of the Norwegian Coast Guard and current ACGF Chair.
The exercise is conducted in close coordination with civilian authorities and national emergency response organizations, reflecting the operational cooperation between coast guards and broader civil protection systems.