Program details will continue to be released as the event dates near. Please note this is a draft program and changes are likely.
The event begins with a high-level opening ceremony and keynote speeches, setting the scene for three days of discussion and knowledge sharing. Following the opening ceremony, participants will gather for a complimentary lunch and a series of breakout sessions.
Speakers of the opening ceremony include:
Permanent Participant Representative to be confirmed
The day's thematic focus is on emerging risks, Arctic tourism, Arctic shipping, and Indigenous Peoples and Communities of the Arctic.
The first day concludes with an event dinner for participants hosted by the Kingdom of Denmark Chairship of the Arctic Council.
The second day features thematic keynote speeches followed by breakout sessions, with opportunities for discussion and knowledge sharing throughout the day. Themes include Arctic Indigenous and local communities, and perspectives from passenger ship and cruise ship industry.
The final day of the event consists of thematic keynote speeches, lunch, and a closing plenary session summarizing the event proceedings. Discussions will focus on search and rescue, health preparedness aspects of cruise ship incidents, and on marine environmental response considerations.
Speakers of the closing ceremony include:
"Understanding where, and what type of passenger vessels are operating in the Arctic is crucial to planning and helping to inform management measures that aim to reduce the risk of environmental impacts. That is why the collection and analysis of AIS data across the Arctic using PAME’s ASTD database can help to support this crucial first step when considering the current level of preparedness and ability to respond to marine accidents involving cruise ships and passenger vessels operating in the Arctic and North Atlantic. ” –Dr. Lauren McWhinnie
Dr. Lauren McWhinnie is a marine biologist and geographer. Her research focuses on how we can mitigate and better manage the impacts of human activities on marine environments, and particularly the Arctic ocean. Her research work focuses on developing spatial planning tools and management strategies that reduces the impacts and risks associated with vessel traffic principally in relation to marine mammals. In recent years this has increasingly centred around understanding the range of potential threats associated with passenger vessels and the extent to which these are changing in different areas of the Arctic.
McWhinnie is an Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and an Adjunct Professor within the Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Canada. She currently co-Leads the PAME project Arctic Marine Tourism: Mapping Whale Watching in the Arctic with colleagues in Canada.
Tore Hongset works as a SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC) at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre North Norway, a position he has had since 2006. He also serves as the Chair of the SAR Expert Group in the Arctic Council working group EPPR (Emergency, Prevention, Preparedness and Response), and he is engaged in working with the Arctic Coast Guard Forum.
His educational background is with the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy and Norwegian Defence Command and Staff College. Hongset also hold a bachelor`s degree in Circumpolar studies from the University of the Arctic. His freetime is evenly divided between musical activities and the blessed sailing life.
"Effective emergency preparedness is not built on plans alone—it is built through exercises, honest evaluation and continuous learning. Our experience shows the importance of strong coordination between ship and shore, particularly in remote areas where distance, limited resources and delayed external assistance can significantly affect an emergency response.” –Atli Joensen
Atli Joensen is HSEQ Manager, Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and Company Security Officer (CSO) at Smyril Line, a Faroese shipping company operating passenger and cargo services in the North Atlantic. He is responsible for safety, security, environmental, and quality management across the company’s fleet and shore organization, including emergency preparedness, crisis response, and continuous improvement.
Atli has a multidisciplinary background spanning the maritime, oil and gas, aviation, telecommunications and infrastructure sectors. Before joining Smyril Line, he held roles in maintenance and reliability within the oil and gas industry, as well as quality, safety and management positions in aviation and telecommunications.
He holds an MSc in Technology and has a background in maritime engineering and ship management, complemented by professional qualifications in management systems and risk management.
Mark van der Hulst has worked in the maritime industry since beginning his career with the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1990. After his naval service, he gained experience in shipbuilding and the yacht industry before spending 15 years with one of the Arctic expedition cruise operators that founded AECO, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators.
Throughout his career in expedition cruising, Mark has been actively involved in shaping maritime policy and operational standards in the polar regions. He has served as both a member and chair of the marine committees of AECO and IAATO (the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators), as well as on the executive committees of both organizations. He also contributed to the development of the International Maritime Organization’s Polar Code.
Today, Mark works as an independent maritime consultant and leads AECO’s project on Underwater Radiated Noise, bringing together industry experience, operational knowledge, and environmental stewardship to support more responsible expedition cruise operations in the Arctic.
Contact the EPPR Secretariat