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