Kista Arctica was built in Nystad, Finland, in 1973 for the Danish-French Steamship Company and was given
the name Grønland (Greenland). The ship, measuring 3338 gross tons and 94 metres in length, has a strong
construction, especially designed for navigation in heavy ice, and she is, in the main, probably the most solid ship
of the Danish Merchant Navy, built of 22 mm special steel, which is further reinforced at exposed spots. As new,
Grønland was chartered for ten years by The Royal Greenland Trade Department, who bought the ship in 1983
and, in 1986, she was passed on to KNI, who renamed her Nungu Ittuk. Seven years later, in 1993, the ship was
passed on to the newly founded shipping company of Royal Arctic Line (RAL) and renamed Kista Arctica.
Kista Arctica is especially used where the other ships of the company cannot sail safely, that is on the east coast of
Greenland from Danmarkshavn to Angmagssalik, just as she is used for the first call at the ports of the Disko Bay
and for navigation to Thule, Upernavik and Uummannaq. For navigation under especially difficult conditions,
e.g. up along the north-east coast of Greenland, where scientific, military and meteorological bases and stations
are supplied with fuel, building materials and other things which cannot practically be flown up, the ship can be
equipped with a helicopter, which can be used partly for ice reconnaissance and partly for the necessary connection
with land.
Note: Last autumn Royal Arctic Line sold Kista Arctica.
Greenland Philatelic.