TRANSPORT

 

Infrastructure

The road network in Greenland is approximately 120 km. Most of the public road network is found in Nuuk. The roads are used for traffic within each individual town. There are no roads between towns. One exception is in South Greenland, however, where dirt roads connect some sheep farms.

 

Transportation of passengers and cargo takes place by ship or by air. In the early 1960's, Greenlandair Ltd (now Air Greenland Ltd) established a network based on helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

 

There are 13 airports in Greenland, six heliports, and 40 helistops, cf. Table 1.

 

Passengers to and from Greenland arrive at and depart from the airports in Kangerlussuaq (Sdr. Strømfjord) or Narsarsuaq. The airports at Kulusuk near Tasiilaq and in Nuuk also receive travellers from Iceland.

 

There are 16 ports in Greenland and jetties in 60 settlements, cf. Table 1. There are approximately 250 harbour facilities in Greenland ranging from Atlantic harbours and fishing wharves to piers in settlements and pontoon and mooring facilities.

 

In terms of freight turnover, the harbours in Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Aasiaat are the largest in the country. These three harbours handle more than 1 million cubic metres of cargo per year, more than 70 per cent of the total cargo turnover.

 

The major harbours for passengers are Nuuk Harbour, Sisimiut Harbour, and Ilulissat Harbour. The harbour in Nuuk is the largest, from where about 25 per cent of all passengers start or end their sea journey and where 50 per cent of the total cargo in terms of turnover is handled.

 

Road Transport

The number of cars and vans is shown in Table 1 below. Since 2005, the stock of motor vehicles has risen by just over 19 per cent. The growth is almost exclusively due to a rise in the number of cars and vans see Table 2.

 

Figure 1

Cars and Vans

Source: The police

 

The stock of passenger cars per 1.000 households has increased by 36,7 per cent from 2001 to 2006. In 2006, there were 156 cars per 1.000 households compared to 114 in 2001.

 

Figure 2

Newly Registered Motor Vehicles

Note: No figures for 2000 are available.

Source: The police

 

Air Greenland carries out domestic and international transport of passengers and freight by air. Traffic to and from Greenland is operated with jet aircraft while domestic traffic is handled with propeller aircraft and helicopters, cf. Table 3.

 

Transport by Ship

The harbours are an important part of the infrastructure of the country since virtually all supplies of goods and the transportation of passengers between settlements and certain towns takes place by sea. The harbours also service the fishing industry.

 

The transportation of goods to and from Greenland and between towns is undertaken by the shipping company Royal Arctic Line Ltd. The Greenland Port of Aalborg is the main port for goods shipped to and from Greenland.

 

The transport of goods from towns to settlements is undertaken by Royal Arctic Settlement Services Ltd.

 

Umiaq Arctic Line Ltd has carried passengers along the west coast of Greenland since 1997. The privatized Umiaq Arctic Line Ltd is now owned by Air Greenland Ltd and Royal Arctic Line Ltd. The company carries passengers on a purely commercial basis and has one vessel for passengers.

 

Freight

The fleet of Royal Arctic Line Ltd consists of five custom-built and ice-strengthened container ships, especially adapted to the natural and geographical conditions in Greenland. For the purpose of loading and unloading in Greenland, the ships have been equipped with their own cranes. Moreover, the ships can bring their own customized barges used where harbour and quay facilities do not exist.

 

Read more about Royal Arctic Line Ltd at www.ral.gl.

 

Figure 3

Ship Freight

Source: Royal Arctic Line Ltd

 

POST Greenland Ltd handled 425 tonnes letters in 2006. The volume of letter mail has decreased steadily since 1999 when 565 tonnes were sent. Most of the letters have been sent from outside of Greenland, cf. Table 4.

 

Read more about POST Greenland Ltd at www.post.gl.

 

Air Traffic

Airports and heliports are an important part of the infrastructure as all traffic of passengers to and from Greenland is by air.

 

The airports at Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq are the main gateways to Greenland. In addition, airports, heliports, and helistops serve the internal passenger and cargo traffic.

 

From 2006, government subsidies for passenger traffic were focused in a unilateral system based on air traffic. The government subsidies are targeted regional areas operated under a service contract.

 

Most airline passengers and the majority of air cargo are transported on commercial terms, i.e. without public subsidy. The commercial traffic areas are characterized by many passengers and runways for fixed-wing aircraft.

 

The operation of the airports is handled by Mittarfeqarfiit, the Greenlandic Airport Authority, which is owned by the Government of Greenland.

 

Read more about Mittarfeqarfiit at www.glv.gl.

 

The operation of some heliports and helistop is handled by Air Greenland Ltd and Pilersuisoq Ltd respectively while some operations at Thule Air Base are carried out by POST Greenland Ltd.

 

Transport of Passengers by Air

The national airline of Greenland, Air Greenland Ltd, is owned by the Government of Greenland, SAS, and the Danish government, owning own 37,5 per cent, 37,5 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

 

Read more about Air Greenland at www.airgreenland.gl.

 

Statistics on passengers travelling by ship and plane are shown in Table 6. Table 7 displays departing passengers from airports, heliports, and helistops. Take-offs from airports, heliports, and helistops are shown in Table 8.