International Ice Charting Working Group
Overview
The International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG), formed in October 1999, has successfully worked as a forum for the operational ice services and other like-minded organizations to help them better meet the needs of their national and international maritime clients through coordination and cooperation in data and technology sharing, standards, training, product development, and research activities. Working on task teams every year and through the annual meeting, IICWG has proven to be a valuable opportunity for the national ice services to meet with partners, clients, academia, space agencies, and other related service providers to discuss issues facing operational ice monitoring and forecasting. The IICWG is an advisory body to the WMO and coordinates its activities with a number of its subsidiary bodies. For more on the history and purpose of the IICWG, see IICWG – The First 25 Years. For a comprehensive description of sea ice information services worldwide, see WMO's Sea Ice Information Services in the World.
The IICWG is governed by a Charter and Terms of Reference and has adopted a Vision and Strategic Goals.
The current co-chairs of the IICWG are:
- Marianne Thyrring, Director-General, Danish Meteorological Institute
- Russ White, Director-General, Prediction Services, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Current Ice Information
- The latest ice charts can be found on the Ice Logistics Portal.
- Emergency situations involving floating ice: International Ice Service Emergency Contact List (Mar 2024).
- General inquiries about floating ice: Regional Contact List (Mar 2024).
Latest News
- Press Release 13 September 2024: IICWG Communiqué - 25 years of Global Ice Charting and Collaboration – Successes and the Way Forward
Meetings
Most Recent Meeting
The 25th meeting of the IICWG was held in Monterey, CA, USA hosted by the Naval Postgraduate School from September 9-13, 2024.
- IICWG-XXV 1st Invitation Letter (PDF 933 KB, Mar 2024)
What's New
- E-Guide to Understanding and Identifying Old Ice in Summer (PDF 48 MB, Apr 2023)
- Ice Service Survey on Automated Products Summary Report (PDF 344 KB, Aug 2021)
IICWG Charter
Originally Adopted: 7 October 1999
Most Recently Updated: 10 September 2024
Recognizing the ongoing interest of the nations influenced by ice covered seas in the use and protection of these seas; and further recognizing the value and economics of cooperative activities in operational ice services supporting maritime navigation; the ice charting nations of the world hereby form the International Ice Charting Working Group.
Access the Charter of the International Ice Charting Working Group
IICWG Terms of Reference
Most Recently Updated: 10 September 2024
The Terms of Reference outlines the objectives of the IICWG with respect to the following activities:
- Maritime Safety Focus
- Technical Resources and Personnel
- Science to Operations
- Standards and Competencies
- Support Situational Awareness
Access the Terms of Reference
Vision and Strategic Goals
Most Recently Updated: 10 September 2024
This document outlines the vision, mission, values and strategic goals of the IICWG.
Access the IICWG Vision and Strategic Goals
Participating Agencies
Organizational Structure of Ice Services (PDF 94 KB)
Argentine Naval Hydrographic Service
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Danish Meteorological Institute
Finnish Meteorological Institute
Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (BSH)
Icelandic Meteorological Office
Japan Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department
Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management
Russian Federation Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute
United States National Ice Center
U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol - North Atlantic Iceberg Detection and Forecasting
Related Links
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI)
Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment 2009 Report
DCRS Sea-ice Information System
Global Digital Sea Ice Data Bank
International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean
Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)
National Snow and Ice Data Center
Space and the Arctic Workshop Conclusions
WMO Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme
Note: This site is maintained for IICWG by the NOAA@NSIDC team.