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Home , Ejnar Mikkelsen, Hans Island, HMCS Okanagan, Iqaluit, Kangilinnguit, Operation Nanook (1946)

my region – stretches from a of proper and goes towards the ; we are remote and have few friends to call.” and Denmark share the chal - lenges of a huge AOR, therefore, Kudsk suggests, “it is extremely important that we cooperate across borders and have a Canad a’s Neighbour close knowledge of each other and also join forces for military exercises. It might not be [solely] for the purpose of doing military Canada’s northland shares a land border with , but the next closest business, but really to get to know each neighbour is . FrontLine’s Vancouver-based correspondent and other on a first name basis.” video-journalist, Jane Kokan , spoke with Rear-Admiral Henrik Kudsk The Admiral confirms that “the state of Denmark is in charge of the military in about Greenland Command. Greenland, and in addition to our military tasks, we more or less hold the responsibil - A vast part of the world’s largest island is The Admiral’s active and much deco - ities that would otherwise be [assigned] to almost completely buried beneath a cap of rated career includes command of four sub - a Coastguard, as we do not have a - permanent ice and snow. The distance marines in the Royal Danish (1982 – guard.” Such duties are normally handled from (Canada) to Franklin 1986), command of Arctic/Offshore Patrol by the Navy and the Airforce. Island (Greenland) across the , ships (1995-1996) and Branch Head, Special RAdm Kudsk and Brigadier- is a mere 25 kilometres. In contrast, the Operations, at Allied Joint Task Force Com - Guy Hamel, who commands Joint Task island is almost 1,500 km from – mand in Lisbon, one of NATO’s three oper - Force North, are joint commanders who its link with Europe is historic rather than ational commands (2004-2007). are responsible for all capabilities, regard - geographical. Greenland has had home rule since less of which service they originate from. Rear-Admiral Henrik Kudsk assumed 1979, meaning it has its own government but According to Kudsk, Greenland Com - the post of Island Commander Greenland, is still part of Denmark. (The mand is responsible for: the military in August 200 7. He proudly claims a “spe - are also part of the Kingdom of Denmark.) defence of Greenland; the surveillance and cial connection to Canada,” saying it is Some political analysts predict that Green - maintenance of territorial ; more than just geography. “I took the Com - land could gain full independence in the not related maritime duties such as search and manding Officers Qualifying Course for too distant future. In that case, rescue, notices to mariners, fishery protec - commanding and I passed the would have to develop a new military and tion, anti-pollution and oil spill recovery in course aboard the Canadian submarine, the political relationship with its potentially the open ocean; and support to local com - Okanagan , so I hold a drivers license for new independent Arctic neighbour. munities such as ice breaking and hydro - your ,” he chuckles. The course Kudsk quickly gets back to the chal - graphic surveying. has been dubbed the “perisher” because of lenges of his current job and the extensive Reminiscing about his days as a sub - its high failure rate. area of responsibility. “My responsibility – commander, Kudsk says he has par - Today, RAdm Kudsk still proudly dis - ticularly fond memories of his time and the plays HMCS Okanagan’s crest in his office camaraderie aboard the Okanagan (an at Greenland Command, in the port of , situated in southwestern Greenland. During the early Cold years, the naval base at Kangilinnguit, was used to monitor Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic. Rear-Admiral Henrik Kudsk, with P571 HDMS N E K

I visible in T I L

O background. P , K C E B S U M S A R : O T O H P Oberon-class submarine that served the Canadian Forces from 1968-1998). Not long before she was decommis - sioned, the Okanagan had one final mis - sion. She was tasked to search for ’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder shortly after the aircraft crashed into the waters at the entrance of St. Margaret’s Bay in on 2 Sep - tember 1998. There were no survivors. Peering out at the frenzied snow bliz - zard outside his office, the Danish Admiral

is humbled by his Arctic geography. “You D N A have to respect what you are doing up here. M M O

It might be beautiful one moment, and a C D N moment later, if you don’t know what you A L N E

are doing, it will try to kill you.” E

R A Class patrolship, G :

O HDMS Ejnar Mikkelsen is specially T O

Submarines H designed for operations in the Arctic. P Responding to a question about Denmark’s present submarine capabilities and future Assets them in a permanent station to the very far plans, Kudsk replies: “We scrapped the sub - North – [this is] east of your Northwest marines six years ago because, as a small Kudsk, who has spent most of his life at Passage, east of Resolute Bay, but on our nation, we had to focus on our armed sea, describes the Naval assets under his side. Up around the area, we hold a forces.” Yet he acknowledges their impor - current purview. “For designated use in the ship permanently, whenever the ice per - tance, admitting that “the most capable Arctic we have a total of seven ships. We mits. So as soon as the ice thaws, we have war fighting instrument in the Arctic will be have four -sized ships (three and a a ship up there. And we have the same on a submarine.” half thousand tonnes) – they operate heli - the northeast coast of Greenland, on the Discussing potential conflicts in the copters and are ice capable. We normally other side.” Arctic, he explains that “we are not talking keep one permanently stationed around , across from Ellesmere about militarizing the Arctic at all. We do Greenland and the other permanently sta - Island, is the Northernmost base. “We have not see a military threat in the Arctic. And tioned around the Faroe Islands. In addition been in the vicinity of your Alert Bay with even though, obviously, my first respon - to these four, we have two medium sized ships because of the thaw in recent years.” sibly is formally the defence of Greenland, patrol ships (a little less than two thousand the other part of that military task is really tonnes). And then we have one remaining Arctic Borders sovereignty and surveillance.” small cutter, Tulugaq – which means Raven in the local language – with a 13-man The international boundary between crew, but still ice capable. In terms of our Canada’s Ellesmere Island and Greenland, HDMS Hvidbjørnen , naval capacities, these ships are spread lies roughly in the middle of tiny Hans a Thetis Class Arctic around. In the summer we deploy two of Island – 1.3 square kilometres of uninhab - patrol frigate, is ited, barren rock. equipped with a The boundaries of the continental shelf LYNX helicopter. between Ellesmere Island and Greenland were agreed upon in 1973. But the two nations couldn’t agree on which country would control the real estate on . A topographic map, endorsed by Ottawa, and originally used in 196 7, placed Hans Island entirely in Canadian territory. Then in 2007, after viewing newer satellite imagery, Ottawa admitted that the island D N

A is not solely in Canadian territory. M M

O Still, over the years, the “dispute” of C D

N competing boundary claims has reached A L

N almost comic proportions – complete with E E

R flag raising ceremonies and a “war of G : O

T words” from both sides. Why the big O H

P interest in a chunk of frozen rock ? Scien -

24 I Front Line Defence I Issue 1, 2012 I www.frontline-canada.com tists with the Geological Survey of Canada because he believes it’s only a matter of Code as quickly as possible. A document have sampled rocks from Ellesmere Island, time before it happens again – and “we have titled Kingdom of Denmark’s Strategy for the Hans Island and Greenland to test for oil to be prepared,” he asserts. Arctic 2011-2020 (Denmark, Greenland and and gas potential in the region. Wood Cruises through the Northwest pas - the Faroe Islands) lays out the following Mackenzie, an energy consultancy group, sage increased by 70% between 2006 and goals: “The Polar Code will supplement the has pointed out that Greenland could have 2009. It comes as no surprise that residents international maritime safety and environ - reserves of 20 billion barrels of oil, which of Arctic communities worry about the mental conventions which already apply in could turn the semi-autonomous Danish risks that come with these “floating cities.” the Arctic with additional rules on rescue island into one of the world’s major new oil Concerns include: disturbance of wildlife, equipment, fire fighting, ice navigation and regions. So it is entirely possible that dor - accumulating air and water pollution, the navigation in uninhabited areas to allow for mant oil and gas reserves lie somewhere possibilities of major fuel spills, groundings, Arctic conditions. The Polar Code must also between Hans Island and Ellesmere Island. outbreaks of disease and acts of terrorism. allow for changing requirements imposed Responding to the Hans Island issue, Kudsk is a relentless advocate of the by geography and seasons. The work is the Admiral says: “For me that is a non implementation of a mandatory Arctic taking place at the International Maritime issue, because it has existed since 1973 and Code on the conduct and equipment of Organization (IMO) and the rules are there is no chance of it turning into a con - ships. “Right now there is no Polar Code, expected to come into force in 2013-2014.” flict. We agree to disagree, that’s it. And and this is serious,” he declares, noting that The Admiral recalls a pivotal year. “I then let’s go cooperate on something else. a Danish cruise ship was grounded in the would like to say that the key year was From a political standpoint, we have decided Canadian Arctic in 2010. “Hopefully that 2008.” That summer, part of the multi-year not to make it an issue, and that we would mandatory code will be issued in 2013 at ice cover of pack ice “certainly disappeared stop doing flag raising ceremonies and the latest. And this is heavily supported by in Greenland,” he says. “We detected four provocations and stuff like that – and let the [other] Arctic nations.” cruise ships in that area the first day. So you the diplomats settle it sooner or later.” Kudsk believes an Arctic Code should can see that commercial activities are Both sides now inform each other of be issued by the IMO (International Mar - immediate. I have seen an increase in com - any “action” they take in regards to the island, itime Organization) to clarify some basic mercial activities coming from the outside and each are mapping the ocean floor for safety issues. For instance, he says opera - of Greenland. This traffic has increased by submissions to the UN Commission on the tors should not be allowed to have open 70% over three years.” Limits of the Continental Shelf. It is still lifeboats in the Arctic – “they should be Getting more specific, Kudsk recounts unclear what the end result will be; one closed lifeboats. Also, you should have ice the 2011 September 11th anniversary. He possibility could be shared jurisdiction. [beam light] projectors in the ships.” Low says he will never forget the view from his Another is to split the island, effectively lying black ice can only be seen by office. “I [counted] a total of 59 or 60 ships giving Canada and Denmark a shared land beam light projectors, he says, not by radar. coming from the outside. We would nor - border. An agreement is expected before “Sailing in the Arctic without that kind of mally have 12-16 cruise ships around on a Canada submits its Arctic seabed claim to equipment is equivalent to driving your car September day. But the thrust towards the the in 2013. Kudsk is a firm at night without headlights.” Kudsk is very Arctic is growing right now at an exponen - believer in a diplomatic solution to the concerned that such equipment is not a tial rate. I have seen it in the past 15 years. Hans Island issue. He is more concerned legal requirement. I sailed as a commander here on one of our with the “real battles” that lie ahead in the Denmark is definitely taking a lead Arctic patrol in the mid 1990s and, Arctic, such as dealing with the increase in when it comes to implementing a Polar in those days, we had 3 to 5 to 6 ships in Arctic traffic from cruise ship tourism and scientific and resource activity. “This is why we need a polar code,” he states candidly. HDMS Vaedderen and HDMS Knud Rasmussen in the port of Grønnedal The Polar Code where Greenland Command and Arctic Tourism is located. Although complete data for Arctic cruises are hard to obtain, global tourism statistics clearly show the number of cruise ships visiting the Arctic is rising, especially in and Greenland. And accidents do happen. In 1984, the D N

MS Explorer became the first polar cruise A M M ship to transit the . In O C D

November 200 7, the veteran ice-strength - N A L ened ship, considered fully equipped for N E E R

polar travel, sank in the after G : O hitting a submerged object. Kudsk cites this T O H incident in many of his SAR presentations P

Issue 1, 2012 I www.frontline-canada.com I 25 the high season. Then in 2008, we had it’s own right, which naturally holds great specific search and rescue areas, assigning around 34. Then in 2011, we had around interest both for Canada and for my nation responsibility to each Arctic country for 60.” He describes the growth rate in the and the other Arctic states.” a specific area. Arctic as “exponential” right now . Kudsk, who was present at the In the winter, large cruise ships that The Arctic Council meetings, affirms: “Really, have finished their summer cruises return the Arctic Council was advisory in the past. from Europe and elsewhere, passing the An international exercise took place in I believe that the decision around Arctic southern coast of Greenland. “There we a few months ago. “It was search and rescue was transformed as was [see] the very large 3,000 passenger ships.” fruitful,” says Kudsk of the October 2011 expressed by the Foreign Minister of Den - This begs the question, what if disaster meeting on Arctic search and rescue co- mark at that meeting. It transformed the strikes a 3,00 0- 4,000 passenger cruise ship operation. The table top exercise concen - organization towards a more decision off the coast of Greenland ? Who can forget trated on air and marine incidents that making organization, representing the the recent images of the stricken Italian could potentially occur in the Arctic and Arctic nations.” cruise ship, Costa Concordia , which capsized that would require international coopera - So, are members of the Arctic Council off the coast of Italy with some 4,2000 tion and sharing of resources. embracing the new age of Arctic co-opera - people on board ? The latest report indicates The goal of this gathering was to build tion ? RAdm Kudsk certainly is. He is busy 32 people are dead or missing. Had that on the agreement signed in Nuuk, the organizing a search and rescue exercise, accident occurred in Arctic waters, would capital of Greenland. On 12 May 2011, rep - SAREX Greenland Sea 2012, on his home there have been any survivors ? That’s hard resentatives from Canada, Denmark, the turf in the fall. “All eight members of the to answer. In fact, does any one nation , , Sweden, Norway, Arctic Council are invited to this event,” have enough search and rescue capability and , signed a circumpolar says Kudsk, enthusiastically reading out the to deal with a marine disaster of that size ? Search and Rescue Treaty, which commits invitation that is being sent. Prevention is the best policy. In Green - each country to co-operate in cases of “I the Commander of Greenland, also land waters, cruise operators are warned of Arctic disasters, making it the first binding the Maritime Rescue Command Centre, as the risks against operating alone and are pact agreed to by all eight parties. The responsible for the operation of the mar - advised to operate in “pairs” when navi - agreement also divided the Arctic into itime rescue command centre, Greenland, have scheduled a search and rescue exer - cise stressing a cruise ship in distress in a Harbour, Greenland remote area of the Arctic. The exercise will be conducted over a period of four days from September 1 0-14th, 2012 in the Greenland Sea on the North Eastern Coast of Greenland. The search and rescue exercise will be the first [such] exercise involving both ships and aircraft under the auspices of the Arctic Council search and agreement signed in May 2011. The exercise will include both an open sea search operation and an inshore rescue and evacuation operation. The ‘cruise ship’ in the inshore rescue and evacuation operation will be performed by a Danish navy ship with role players.”

Aurora Borealis over Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. gating remote areas. Kudsk affirms there are “poorly surveyed waters in remote areas of Greenland.” Responding to a question about ship traffic in the years to come, Kudsk replies: “During the past three years, the economic growth and the activities related to the Arctic have been increasing exponentially. And that is simply because the Arctic is opening up [and gaining] importance. Certainly, the Arctic is getting a value in

26 I Front Line Defence I Issue 1, 2012 I www.frontline-canada.com Melting Polar Ice Caps Thule, on the northwest coast of to mention the fact that the elite canines Greenland, has the northernmost deep don’t have to spend any time in the repair From both land and sea, Rear-Admiral water port in the world. Evacuation exer - shop, as is the case with . Kudsk sees distinct environmental changes cises are performed, using the port facility Also, the dogs don’t expel fumes into the in the Arctic. “Although being a ‘per defi - around the Thule airbase. However, there fragile Arctic environment. nition’ conservative naval , I do see is only a short window in the summer climate change. I see the very real effects of when the sea ice melts enough to dispatch Future Relations? the melting of the polar icecap. The melting ships to that base. The Thule Air Base, Canada and Denmark have “extremely of the ice and the incoming commercial established after the second World War, is good relations,” points out the Admiral. interest in the Arctic has meant that my the northernmost U.S. Air Force base, and Both are members of NATO and the Arctic effective maritime area of responsibility today is used by both the American and Council. And there is more work to be has doubled over the past few years. Danish militaries. Where people sail now used to be covered done. “We can learn from your Rangers and you can learn from our dogsled teams,” he by multiyear ice,” he says. The Pride of Greenland: The long polar nights of winter with adds enthusiastically. Both countries have The Sirius Sledge Patrol few hours of sun means it will be freezing resources to offer each other to tackle the challenges in a fast changing Arctic. cold, but this is a perfect time to watch the RAdm Kudsk boasts that his furry, four Similar challenges include: ensuring the Northern Lights – a big attraction at that legged “soldiers” play an integral part in safely of maritime transport in Arctic time of year. However, there is much more supporting Danish sovereignty. Denmark’s waters; balancing resource development ship activity during the summer when Navy dogsled teams, known as the Sirius with environmental protection; addressing frozen areas are thawing out. “You see the Sledge Patrol , patrol Greenland’s northeast the impact of climate change due to the big difference in the summer.” Coast. This unique canine unit is the melting of the polar ice caps; and ensuring world’s only military dog sled patrol. The that Northern communities participate in Collaborative Relationship detachment was activated in the summer the sustainable economic development of of 1941 to prevent German landings along the region. In recent years, the Danish and Canadian the northeast coast of Greenland during the Both countries are sparsely populated militaries have conducted joint military second World War. Today, patrolling is usu - and remote. Canada’s North is home to exercises between Greenland and Nunavut. ally done in pairs, sometimes for months, little more than 100,000 (mostly Inuit) Kudsk has participated in annual Canadian and often without human contact. The unit people. Greenland’s 57,000+ inhabitants Forces Arctic exercises, including Operation selectively breeds dogs for hardiness and are scattered over a vast terrain, and the Nunalivut and . stamina. Each dog works for five years. By majority are also Inuit. Kudsk explains, “During Nunalivut 20 10, retirement age, a Sirius Patrol dog will have Hopefully, by 2013, or sooner, politi - we integrated with the Canadian Forces by pulled sledges for more than 20,000 km. cians and military brass from Ottawa and sending one of our dog sled teams that was “We use dogsled teams because of will be shaking hands and included in your exercise. That had a very [Greenland’s] topography. The dogs cover celebrating the future of Hans Island – and good effect, it might even have had a pro - vast distances, they don’t need gas, and are who knows, perhaps Canada will acquire a found political touch, by focusing on coop - always happy to work,” adds Kudsk. Not eration rather than conflict.” new land border with its Arctic neighbour.

The Danes are reciprocating with an A In any event, it will be easier to travel R E exercise along the east coast of Greenland M to both countries. In the summer of 2012, A C in March of this year. They are keen to T will offer direct flights from A B show the Canadian Forces how they inte - M Greenland’s capital, Nuuk to , the O C grate the serious business of dog sled F capital of Nunavut. The carrier seized an C ,

N opportunity with regards to increasing oil

patrols. “We are hoping to, at best practice, O S

M exploration and mining activity in the to merge and see how things can be done A D

A region, a boom in Arctic tourism and

differently – in order for us to learn from O L I

H expanding cultural and political links

your Canadian Ranger knowledge, and vice S L

P between the Inuit of both nations. The sta - versa,” says Kudsk. C :

O tistics show that the skies and waters of the The two countries can learn from T O H many common challenges, Kudsk notes. P Arctic are becoming busier each day. “We are trying to learn how to use skidoos. Rear Admiral Henrik Kudsk is com - They obviously don’t have the long range mitted to cooperating with Canada and the of the dog sled teams, but let’s say there is other Arctic states in keeping those waters an accident up there – you can parachute a and skies safe in light of the many complex team in and then control the situation, or challenges ahead. And he is absolutely right perhaps establish a temporary landing zone Defence Minister Peter MacKay greets when he says it’s high time for a Polar Code for rescue. We are looking into a search and a dog from the Danish military’s SIRIUS to be established and made obligatory. FL rescue related scenario like that, using your Dog Sledge patrol while visiting a bivouac on Oopik Island, near CF Station Alert Jane Kokan is a FrontLine experience.” during Operation Nunalivut 2010. correspondent from Vancouver.

Issue 1, 2012 I www.frontline-canada.com I 27