Danish authorities have chartered an expedition vessel to accommodate Danish and international soldiers participating in exercise Arctic Endurance in Greenland.
The ship has been chartered by the Danish defence to accommodate the soldiers without simultaneously placing additional pressure on hotel capacity in Nuuk during periods with many tourists and other visitors.
Accommodation on the ship ensures that the soldiers can live under good and familiar conditions without the Danish defence having to establish temporary facilities on land, the Danish authorities said.
SunStone Maritime Group, the Danish parent company for the SunStone Group of companies, has chartered its expedition/passenger ship, the Ocean Endeavour, to the Danish defence.
From early February, the vessel will be berthed in Nuuk, Greenland, where it will accommodate Danish and international soldiers participating in exercise Arctic Endurance.
Until late 2025, the Ocean Endeavour was chartered out as a polar expedition vessel with itineraries in Arctic Canada, Greenland, and Antarctica.
“Some of the Danish and international soldiers who will be participating in Exercise Arctic Endurance in Greenland over the coming year will, from early February, be accommodated on the hotel ship Ocean Endeavour. The hotel ship will be berthed in the port of Nuuk,” the Danish defence said in its statement, adding that the ship is intended to ensure that the civilian infrastructure in Nuuk is not overstretched.
Ocean Endeavour is an ice-strengthened vessel that has previously operated in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Since 2025, the Danish defence has increased its presence in Greenland and the North Atlantic, and, as planned, will conduct the exercise throughout 2026.
The exercise includes soldiers from large parts of the Danish defence as well as soldiers from a number of NATO allies, who will conduct training at various locations in and around Greenland.
Participating nations include France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Belgium, all of which have either already been or are currently in Greenland to plan upcoming exercises.
Planning and reconnaissance activities are conducted in close cooperation with the Danish Defence and the Arctic Command.
Initially, the participating nations are focusing on identifying opportunities to support Arctic Endurance, which is planned to take place throughout 2026 in and around Greenland.
Additional NATO nations have expressed interest in deploying reconnaissance teams to Greenland and are expected to arrive over the course of the year.
Denmark’s King Frederik X plans a crucial visit to Greenland as the U.S., under President Donald Trump, eyes greater access to the Arctic island.
King Frederik announced a critical visit to Greenland, scheduled from February 18 to 20, amid geopolitical pressure from the United States.
On Thursday, January 29, the Danish royal family announced that the King Frederik is expected to arrive in Greenland’s capital Nuuk on Wednesday, February 18.
As per the palace, more details about the three-day programme will be released later.
The announcement comes amid a diplomatic spat between the US and Denmark, caused by President Donald Trump’s continued claims that he needs Greenland, citing national security concerns related to Russia and China.
Trump initially claimed Greenland was necessary for national security but recently retracted proposals to take control, opting for diplomatic talks instead.
