
International Ice Charting Working Group
Overview
The International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG), formed in October 1999, is a working group of the world’s national ice services to promote coordination of operational sea ice and iceberg information services to better meet the needs of their national and international maritime clients. Through collaboration and cooperation in data sharing, standards, training, product development, research activities, and the delivery of information services, the IICWG aims to enhance the safety of maritime operations in ice-covered waters. For more on the history and purpose of the IICWG, see The IICWG - An Historical Perspective After 13 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 (Jan. 2023).
- General inquiries about floating ice: Regional Contact List (Jan. 2023).
Latest News
Ice Services Working for Maritime Safety in the Polar Seas: IICWG-XXIII Press Release (Oct. 2022)
Meetings
Most Recent Meeting
The 23rd meeting of the IICWG was held in Buenos Aires at the invitation of the Argentine Naval Hydrographic Service from September 26-30, 2022.
- IICWG-XXIII Executive Summary
- Go to the IICWG Meetings page to see the full meeting report along with presentations, posters, and recordings
Past Meetings
The 22nd meeting of the IICWG was held by videoconference on September 19-24, 2021.
- IICWG-XXII Executive Summary Report (Oct. 2021)
- See the Meetings page for the full report and links to presentations and session recordings.
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: 17 November 2016
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.
Charter of the International Ice Charting Working Group
Attachment One of the Charter - Terms of Reference
Most Recently Updated: 26 October 2007
The terms of reference outline the objectives of the IICWG with respect to the following:
- Data and Product Exchange
- Terminology, Data, and Mapping Standards
- Operations and Customer Support
- Training
- Technology for Analysis and Forecasting
- Applied Science, Research, and Development
Terms of Reference (Attachment One of the Charter)
Annex 1 to the Terms of Reference
Most Recently Updated: 26 October 2007
This annex deals with the rotation and responsibilities of the IICWG Co-Chairs and the conduct of meetings.
Annex 1 to the Terms of Reference
Vision and Strategic Goals
Originally Adopted: 28 September 2018
This document outlines the long term goals of the IICWG.
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.