SABVABAA - Inuit word meaning: "flows swiftly over it"
A hovercraft dedicated to Arctic Ocean research. Background information
Vision - To promote geomarine research in the Arctic Ocean by combining modern technology with the advantages of the drifting sea ice cover.
| Click to see presentations on YouTube
| Survey overview
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"The FRAM-2014/15 expedition arrived in Longyearbyen on August 22nd 2015 with the hovercraft Sabvabaa after drifting across the inaccessible Arctic Ocean during one year. Prof. Yngve Kristoffersen and Audun Tholfsen have during the FRAM-2014/15 ice drift station has made unique geological, sea ice, ocean and atmospheric measurements from the inaccessible Arctic Ocean during all four seasons."
2012 survey.
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August 2014: Start of one-year Arctic survey, in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
2008 Hovercraft presentation.
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| Scientific activities | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
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| Ice thickness measurements | 200 km | 30 km | 0 km | 0 km | 600 km |
| Ice cores | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CTD stations | 10 | 57 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Seismic reflection (in drift mode) | 10 km | 35 km | 35 km | 44 km | 0 |
| Sediment cores | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rock dredges (successful) | 0 | 5 (3) | 11 (7) | 14(10) | 0 |
| Hovercraft operations | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
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| Total number of trips Longyearbyen to north of 80 N | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Total milage | 3.300 nm | 3.100 nm | 2.075 nm | 1.974 nm | 760 nm |
| Total distance over sea ice | 80 nm | 80 nm | 540 nm | 455 nm | 612 nm |
| Distance north from the ice edge | 7 nm | 15 nm | 90 nm | 75 nm | 270 nm |
| Longest trip without refuelling | 504 nm | 724 nm | 675 nm | | 314 nm |
| Fuel consumption at ecomony speed | 60 l/hr. | 60 l/hr. | 60 l/hr. | | 50 l/hr. |
| Economy speed with full payload | 16-28 knop | 16-28 knop | 16-28 knop | | |
| Average payload at departure Longyearbyen | 3.2 ton | 3.2 ton | 3.2 ton | 3.2 ton | 3.2 ton |
