Profound changes in Arctic sea-ice, a growing desire to utilize the Arctic's abundant natural resources, and the potential competitiveness of Arctic shipping routes, all provide for increased industry marine activity throughout the Arctic Ocean. This is anticipated to result in further challenges for maritime safety. Those operating in ice-infested waters require various types of information for sea-ice and iceberg hazards. Ice information requirements depend on regional needs and whether the stakeholder wants to avoid ice all together, operate near or in the Marginal Ice Zone, or areas within the ice pack. An insight into user needs demonstrates how multiple spatial and temporal resolutions for sea-ice information and forecasts are necessary to provide information to the marine operating community for safety, planning, and situational awareness. Although ship-operators depend on sea-ice information for tactical navigation, stakeholders working in route and capacity planning can benefit from climatological and long-range forecast information at lower spatial and temporal resolutions where the interest is focused on open-water season. The advent of the Polar Code has brought with it additional information requirements, and exposed gaps in capacity and knowledge. Thus, future satellite data sources should be at resolutions that support both tactical and planning activities.

Patients reporting chemsex regularly present to SHCs throughout the UK including rural areas. Given the potential negative health outcomes associated with chemsex, there is a need for local, high quality, appropriate services and training to minimise harm.

HIV partner notification (PN) is a highly effective strategy to identify people living with undiagnosed HIV infection. This national audit of HIV PN is against the 2015 British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH)/British HIV Association (BHIVA)/Society of Sexual Health Advisers (SHAA)/National AIDS Trust (NAT) HIV PN standards, developed in response to the 2013 BASHH/BHIVA national HIV PN audit. We report significant improvements in the number of contacts tested per index case, likely due, in part, to clearer definitions as well as better ascertainment and reporting. There remains scope for improvement with informing and testing contactable contacts. Recommendations from this audit include further refinement of definitions and development of a national proforma for HIV PN.

Background/introductionSexualised substance use (chemsex) amongst men who have sex with men is well documented in some areas (London, Brighton, Manchester), and associated with high-risk sexual practices and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections.Aim(s)/objectivesTo explore demand for chemsex services in UK GUM clinics, including outside major conurbationsMethodsAn online survey was distributed to clinical staff in GUM clinics across the UK. Analysis at clinic level was undertaken for England, with clinics split into 4 categories: (A) urban conurbation, (B) urban with city/town, (C) urban with significant rural, and (D) non-urban.Results357 individuals responded from 152 clinics, 90% were from England. Country–specific clinic response rates were 63% (135/214) in England, 80% (4/5) Northern Ireland (NI), 8% (3/39) Scotland and 83% (10/12) Wales. 82% (227/278) of respondents reported seeing patients who disclosed chemsex (82% England (205/251), 83% NI (5/6), 75% Scotland (6/8), 85% Wales (11/13)), and there was broad consensus that chemsex services (86%) and training were needed (98%). 64% (68/106) of clinics reported routinely asking selected patients about chemsex, 10% (11/106) asked all patients, and the remainder did not ask. Although the proportion of clinics seeing chemsex and the frequency of chemsex consultations was reported to be higher in more urban settings, differences were not significant and many clinics in rural areas reported chemsex consultations (Table 1).Discussion/conclusionChemsex consultations occur in most GUM clinics across the UK albeit to varying degrees. These data suggest a widespread need for specialist chemsex services and training.Abstract P070 Table 1Frequency of chemsex consultations reported by English clinics split into urban/rural category (n = number of clinics):Frequency of Chemsex ConsultationsGroup A clinics (urban conurbation) n(%)Group B clinics(Urban + city/town) n(%)Group C Clinics(Urban + rural) n(%)Group D clinics(Non-urban) n(%)Total nP valueNever7 (19%)5 (12.5%)3 (30%)4 (27%)19Monthly or less16 (44%)28 (70%)5 (50%)8 (53%)57Weekly10 (28%)5 (12.5%)2 (20%)3 (20%)20At least daily3 (8%)2 (5%)005Total 364010151010.851

Impacts of a warming climate are amplified in the Arctic. One notorious impact is recent and record-breaking summertime sea-ice loss. Expanding areas of open water and a prolonged ice-free season create opportunity for some industries but challenge indigenous peoples relying on sea ice for transportation and access to food. The observed and projected increase of Arctic maritime activity requires accurate sea-ice forecasts to protect life, environment, and property. Motivated by emerging prediction needs on the operational timescale (≤10 days), this study explores where local indigenous knowledge (LIK) fits into the forecaster toolbox and how it can be woven into useful sea-ice information products. The 2011 spring ice retreat season in the Bering Sea is presented as a forecasting case study. LIK, housed in a database of community-based ice and weather logs, and an ice-ocean forecast model developed by the US Navy are analyzed for their ability to provide information relevant to stakeholder needs. Additionally, metrics for verifying numerical sea-ice forecasts on multiple scales are derived. The model exhibits skill relative to persistence and climatology on the regional scale. At the community scale, we discuss how LIK and new model guidance can enhance public sea-ice information resources.Key words: sea ice, forecasting, Bering Sea, indigenous knowledge, community observations, operations.Résumé : Les impacts du réchauffement climatique sont amplifiés en Arctique. Un impact certain est la récente perte record de glace de mer en été. L'expansion des zones d'eau libre et une saison sans glace prolongée créent des occasions pour quelques industries, mais constituent un défi pour les peuples autochtones qui comptent sur la glace de mer pour le transport et l'accès à la nourriture. L'augmentation observée et projetée de l'activité maritime arctique nécessite des prévisions de glace de mer précises afin de protéger la vie, l'environnement et la propriété. Cette étude, motivée par de nouveaux besoins de prédiction sur une échelle de temps opérationnelle (≤10 jours), explore à savoir à quel niveau la connaissance indigène locale (CIL) peut s'insérer dans la boîte à outils des prévisionnistes et comment cette connaissance peut être intégrée dans des produits servant d'information sur la glace de mer. La saison de recul des glaces au printemps