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Iceland
General Information for Iceland
Geo-political:
Capital City: Reykjavik.
Nationality: (noun) Icelander, (adjective) Icelandic.
Population: 306,694.
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 354.
Number of Internal Airports: 6.
Major Languages Spoken: Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken.
Economy:
Currency: 1 Iceland Krona (ISK) of 100 Aurar.
Main Industries: Fish processing, aluminium smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power and
tourism.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Other Maritime Claims: Continental Shelf: 200 n.m. or to the edge of the continental margin. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 4,970 km.
Climate: Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers.
Natural Resources: Fish, hydropower, geothermal power and diatomite.
Natural Hazards: Earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Terrain: Mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented
by bays and fiords.
Average Temperatures:
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2° C | -2° C |
| June | 12° C | 7° C |
| September | 8° C | 6° C |
CHARTS:
National nautical charts and Notices to Mariners produced by the Icelandic Coast Guard
(ICG) Hydrographic Department. Chart catalogue and NtMs available to view online at
ISPS COMPLIANCE:
Foreign-flagged ships arriving in Iceland are subject to the provisions of the part
of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS, 1974) that deals
with maritime security, and the Icelandic Act on Maritime Security No. 50/2004 was
inter alia passed on the basis of Regulation (EC) No. 725/2004 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on enhancing ship and port facility security.
Such ships may be subject to Port State Control upon arriving at a port in Iceland.
APPROACHES:
The following locations have been named as places of refuge outside harbours:
- Hvalfjordur between 021° 34.0′ W and 021° 43.0′ W; reference point 63° 23.00′ N, 021° 40.00′ W
- Dyrafjordur, reference point 65° 57.00′ N, 023° 18.00′ W
- Isafjardardjup, reference point 66° 15.00′ N, 023° 18.00′ W
- Eyjafjordur, west of Hrisey, reference point 66° 02.00′ N, 018° 28.00′ W
- Reydarfjordur, reference point 64° 57.50′ N, 013° 40.00′ W
- Heimaey, north of the Eidi, reference point 63° 28.00′ N, 020° 17.00′ W.
PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Pre-arrival documentation and notifications to be submitted via the Icelandic single
window system SafeSeaNet Iceland. Notifications should be sent at least 24 hours before
arrival to an Icelandic port and 72 hours before arrival if vessel is eligible for
an expanded inspection (PSC). Access to SafeSeaNet Iceland for registered users at
safeseanet.112.is/web/thelogin.aspx
BALLAST:
The discharge of ballast water is prohibited within the pollution jurisdiction of
Iceland unless it has been managed or treated according to standards specified in
the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water
and Sediments. The discharge of ballast water within Iceland’s pollution jurisdiction
shall be reported to the Icelandic Coast Guard; Iceland’s Regulation No. 515/2010
on ballast water applies.
POLLUTION:
Acute pollution within a port area shall be reported to the Harbour Master. Incidents
at sea outside port areas shall be reported to the Icelandic Coast Guard.
The Icelandic Coast Guard is authorised to resort to intervention and take any necessary
measures in the waters within the pollution control jurisdiction of Iceland to prevent
or reduce the risk posed to the ocean or coasts from acute pollution. Such intervention
includes taking over the control of a vessel if the instructions of the Icelandic
Coast Guard are not observed. When pollution occurs in the open ocean, the Environment
Agency shall resort to measures. In case of risk of pollution from the grounding of
a vessel or from activity on land or sea-based activities, the Environment Agency
shall take measures to prevent or reduce the risk of pollution.
Contact:
Operations Centre, Icelandic Coast Guard. T: +354 545 2100. F: +354 545 2001.
[email protected]
www.lhg.is
Environmental Agency of Iceland. T: +354 591 2000. F: +354 591 2010.
[email protected]
www.ust.is
WASTE DISPOSAL:
The Master of a ship heading to a port is responsible for notifying port authorities
in advance of any ship-generated waste and cargo residues to be delivered and is responsible
for the accuracy and correctness of the information provided. This rule does neither
apply to fishing vessels nor recreational craft authorised to carry no more than 12
passengers.
Ship’s Master is responsible for ensuring that waste from the vessel is delivered
to a port reception facility or to a certified service provider before leaving port.
A fee shall be paid for the reception and handling of waste from a vessel.
Sewage:
Sewage disposal from vessels is prohibited within port areas and in areas within 300 m.
from the spring tide water level. Vessels of 400 g.t. and above and vessels, which
are certified to carry 15 persons or more but weigh less than 400 g.t. are prohibited
to discharge sewage within 12.0 n.m. from the territorial sea baseline points. It
is permitted to discharge sewage which has been treated in a sewage treatment plant,
approved by the Icelandic Transport Authority or a comparable authority of another
state, outside of 3.0 n.m. from the baseline of the territorial waters.
SLOPS DISPOSAL:
Regarding the discharge of oil into the ocean, noxious liquid substances pursuant
to Annex II to the MARPOL Convention and the discharge of waste and cargo residues
from vessels, the provisions of Annexes I, II and V to the MARPOL Convention apply.
FUEL:
EU Directive 2016/802 relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid
fuels applies to the Icelandic Pollution Prevention Zone.
www.ust.is
- Atlantsolía ehf. T: +354 591 3100. [email protected] www.atlantsolia.is
- N1 hf. T: +354 440 1000. www.n1.is
- Olíuverzlun Islands hf. T: +354 515 1000. F: +354 515 1010. [email protected] www.olis.is
- Skeljungur hf. T: +354 444 3000. [email protected] www.skeljungur.is
Fuel Suppliers in Iceland:
EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTRE:
Icelandic Coast Guard. T: +354 545 2000, 545 2100 (Direct), 511 3333 (Emergency).
F: +354 545 2001.
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.lhg.is/english/
Search Area:
The Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) is responsible for the coordination of all SAR operations
within the Icelandic economic zone and the Icelandic Search and Rescue Region (SRR).
- 73° 00.00′ N, 020° 00.00′ W
- 73° 00.00′ N, 000° 00.00′ W
- 61° 00.00′ N, 000° 00.00′ W
- 61° 00.00′ N, 030° 00.00′ W
- 58° 30.00′ N, 030° 00.00′ W
- 58° 30.00′ N, 043° 00.00′ W
- 63° 30.00′ N, 039° 00.00′ W
- 70° 00.00′ N, 020° 00.00′ W
- 73° 00.00′ N, 020° 00.00′ W.
The Icelandic Search and Rescue Region is demarcated by the following coordinates:
REGULATIONS:
Icelandic legislation on ship traffic in Icelandic waters is based on International
Conventions and Icelandic laws. Iceland is a party to the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea. As a party to the International Maritime Organization (IMO),
Iceland has ratified most of the conventions of the organisation on maritime safety
(SOLAS et al.), pollution controls (MARPOL) and the responsibility of owners and operators.
Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) which, inter alia, means that
the same rules on trade, services and environmental issues apply in Iceland as in
the internal market of the European Union. Iceland has also participated in the work
of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in the field of maritime safety and
pollution control.
An overview of Icelandic laws and regulations on the monitoring of maritime traffic
in Icelandic waters and nature conservation in Iceland may be found on the websites
of the Icelandic Coast Guard, the Icelandic Transport Authority and the Environment
Agency of Iceland. The laws implement the provisions of international conventions
to which Iceland is a party as well as containing legal provisions specific to Iceland.
Icelandic Coast Guard
www.lhg.is/english
Icelandic Transport Authority
www.icetra.is
Environment Agency of Iceland
www.ust.is/english
EU MRV:
The EU MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) regulation entered into force on
1 July 2015, and it requires ship owners and operators to monitor annually, report
and verify CO
2 emissions for vessels larger than 5,000 g.t. calling at any EU and EFTA (Norway and
Iceland) port. Data collection takes place on a per voyage basis and started 1 January
2018.
The reported CO
2 emissions, together with additional data, are to be verified by independent certified
bodies and sent to a central database managed by the European Maritime Safety Agency
(EMSA). The aggregated ship emission and efficiency data will be published by the
EC by 30 June 2019 and then every consecutive year.
Ship owners and operators shall monitor the CO
2 emissions of their vessels per voyage conducted into, between and out of EU (and
EFTA) ports. A voyage is defined as any movement of a ship that originates from, or
terminates in, a port of call (EU port) and that serves the purpose of transporting
passengers or cargo for commercial purposes.
HOLIDAYS:
1 May (Labour Day); 14 May (Ascension Day); 24 May (Whitsun); 25 May (Whit Monday);
17 June (National Holiday Iceland); 3 August (Trading Day); 24 December (Christmas
Eve); 25 December (Christmas); 26 December (Second Day of Christmas); 31 December
(New Year′s Eve).
WEATHER/TIDES:
Sailing in Icelandic waters may be very demanding and there are few places in the
world where a change in weather can be as abrupt. Weather can be very changeable,
especially in winter. Danger can also arise in the summer when low pressure areas
with high wind conditions and added wave height can compromise maritime safety. It
is therefore important to proceed carefully and follow rules on maritime safety in
all respects.
TELEPHONES:
Iceland operates a closed numbering plan, and there are no area codes. The international
call prefix is 00. Land line numbers are generally seven digits long and start with
5xx xxxx (in Reykjavík) or 4xx xxxx (the countryside). Mobile telephone numbers tend
to begin with either 6xx xxxx, 7xx xxxx or 8xx xxxx, and are seven digits long, while
mobile numbers starting with 3 are nine digits long.
BANKS:
Iceland is expensive. Credit cards are widely used. Icelandic Kronur are available
through banks and cash machines in Iceland although some foreign banks require notice
before allowing debit or credit cards to be used in Iceland.
SHORE LEAVE:
Petty theft and anti-social behaviour can occur, particularly around bars where people
gather late at night in downtown Reykjavik. Take sensible precautions and avoid leaving
valuables lying around.
Hotels in Iceland are often fully booked for the summer period. If you visit on flight
only tickets make sure all your accommodation has been reserved before departure.
Whale products are available in Iceland but you should be aware that its importation
into other countries may be illegal under the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species; any illegal importation of whale products is likely to result
in seizure of the goods, possibly a fine and/or a custodial sentence.
AUTHORITY:
Icelandic Transport Authority, Maritime Division, Armula 2, Iceland.
T: +354 480 6000. [email protected] www.icetra.is
