The Sound Cruising Project
Beneath the stillness of Svalbard’s fjords lies a living soundscape. Discover the project that’s capturing the echoes of expedition cruising beneath the surface.
Listening to the Fjords
During the 2025 summer season, HX worked with the Svalbard Miljøvernfondet, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and Aarhus University to investigate how cruise operations influence the underwater soundscape of Svalbard’s remote Arctic waters.
Every vessel that moves through these fjords generates low-frequency vibrations that can travel for kilometres. For whales, seals, and other marine mammals, sound is everything – their way to communicate, navigate, hunt, and stay safe. When our noise overlaps with their calls, it can interrupt that rhythm of life.
By supporting scientists that record and interpret these sounds, we’re learning how to operate more sustainably in the Arctic environment.
Why It Matters
At HX, we believe that exploration is not just about reaching new places – it’s about understanding them. The Sound Cruising Project lets us see Svalbard’s fjords through a different lens: one of listening as much as looking. Each insight strengthens our ability to cruise with care and to protect the wildlife that calls these waters home.
How We Listened
Two moored acoustic recording stations were deployed at Smeerenburg and Hornsund — launched and recovered from MS Fram and our small science boats. These stations recorded continuously through the summer, capturing both natural and vessel-generated sounds.
The scientists also used handheld hydrophones during 33 guest operations across 26 sites, documenting real-time soundscapes.
By combining Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) with AIS vessel tracking data, the research teams mapped how, when, and where cruise-related sounds occur. This provided a detailed understanding of how cruise sounds ripple through the environment and how marine life responds.
Collaboration in Action
The Sound Cruising Project was led by researchers from the Norwegian Polar Institute and Aarhus University, with funding from the Svalbard Miljøvernfonde. We provided field and logistical support on board MS Fram. Together, we achieved all planned data collection — a true partnership of science and exploration.
Work will continue in the summer of 2026, when the teams return to retrieve winter data and extend monitoring. Each season brings deeper insight, helping to guide practical measures that reduce underwater noise and protect Svalbard’s sensitive marine ecosystems.
