Royal Arctic Line

Royal Arctic Line A/S or Royal Arctic is a seaborne freight company in Greenland, wholly owned by the Government of Greenland. It was formed in 1993, and is headquartered in Nuuk.

History

Royal Arctic Line A/S was spun off as a company separate from the Greenlandic conglomerate KNI in 1993. Like many Greenlandic companies, its operations derive from and carry on the traditions of the earlier Royal Greenland Trading Department.
In 2020, Royal Arctic Line entered into a partnership with Icelandic shipping line Eimskip. RAL therefore began calling in Reykjavík for the first time, easing onward shipping to North America.

Operations

The company has a monopoly on all sea transport of cargo to, from, and within Greenland. Construction materials account for roughly a quarter of shipping to Greenland; fish makes up roughly half of shipping from Greenland; fish and beverages bottled at Nuuk account for most shipping within Greenland.
Royal Arctic operates cargo routes among the Greenland settlements and between Nuuk and Aarhus in Denmark and manages 13 harbors in Greenland, which serves as the source for all European shipping to the island. Seaborne traffic from North America goes to Reykjavík aboard Eimskip, whence it is carried to Greenland aboard Royal Arctic Line.
In 2011, government concessions accounted for 76% of the company's income. The Transport Committee newly formed by the Greenland Home Rule government issued a report stating that liberalisation of the shipping market offers no benefits and the current concession is reasonable. It also began planning with RAL and stakeholders to expand the harbors in Nuuk and Sisimiut.

Divisions

Linietrafik (Line Traffic)

Royal Arctic Linietrafik operates the company's fleet, currently consisting of ten ships.

Havneservice (Portservices)

Royal Arctic Havneservice operates the company's harbour operations and nearby lighthouses.

Some other towns such Qaanaaq, Pituffik, Kangerlussuaq, Ittoqqortoormiit and stations in Northeast Greenland National Park in Greenland are served only once to three times per year. Reykjavík in Iceland is served every three weeks on runs to South Greenland and Nuuk and on most trips to East Greenland.

Subsidiaries

Royal Arctic Line Denmark

Royal Arctic Line Denmark A/S is a wholly owned subsidiary based in Aarhus, Denmark.

Arctic Umiaq

Arctic Umiaq Line A/S is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Royal Arctic Line and based in Nuuk. It operates one passenger ferry, Sarfaq Ittuk, among communities along the western coast of Greenland. Its 2011 operating loss of DKK 8.1 million was made good via a loss guarantee from Greenland Home Rule, and the company has secured an agreement for further loss guarantees through 2016.

Arctic Base Supply

Arctic Base Supply A/S is owned jointly with Danbor and based in Nuuk. It provides logistical support for offshore oil and gas exploration and, in 2011, assisted Capricorn Energy in its work at Nuuk and Aasiaat. No activity is expected in 2012, however.

Ejendomsselskabet Suliffik

Ejendomsselskabet Suliffik A/S is a subsidiary owned jointly with Royal Greenland and TELE Greenland.