Oden sets sail for the 2026 Canada-Sweden Arctic Expedition
The Swedish research icebreaker Oden is currently being fitted out in the port of Helsingborg for an international research mission to the Arctic Ocean. Over the past few days, scientific instruments have been installed and winches, laboratories and other technical systems belonging to the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat have been prepared for deployment.
From 10 August to 20 September 2026, the Oden, together with the Canadian icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, will undertake a six-week expedition to the central Arctic Ocean. The mission is being led by the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat and the Geological Survey of Canada.
A key objective of the expedition is the high-resolution mapping of the seabed within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The data collected is intended to contribute to a better understanding of the geological structure of the Arctic seabed and to establish a scientific basis for potential continental shelf claims.
In addition, the research programme encompasses numerous other disciplines. Studies are planned in the fields of marine geology, geophysical mapping, meteorology, oceanography, sea ice dynamics and marine ecosystems. Scientists from Sweden, Canada, Denmark and Greenland are working closely together on this project. On board the Canadian icebreaker, Inuit observers are also accompanying the expedition, contributing their traditional knowledge of marine mammals to the research.
Another key focus is on supporting the next generation of scientists. As part of a training programme, PhD students and early-career researchers are given the opportunity to combine lectures with practical fieldwork and data collection under the guidance of experienced scientists.
In addition to research, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat also emphasises engagement with society and culture. The Swedish author Andreas Norman is taking part in the expedition as part of the artist programme, whilst teacher Henrik Swärd is joining the expedition via the teacher programme. Both are tasked with making scientific findings accessible to a wider audience and building new bridges between research, culture and education.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal
