Ships and cargoes
All Icelandic vessels over 6 metres in length are obliged to be registered and undergo surveys. Ships are divided into two main classes, open boats and decked vessels. Around 1,200 open boats and 1,100 decked vessels are registered in Iceland.
The IMA is responsible for port state control of foreign merchant vessels in Icelandic ports, in accordance with the Paris Memorandum of Understanding which is designed to limit the traffic of substandard ships. See a more detailed list below.
The IMA operates one regional ship survey office in Ísafjörður (West Fjords).
A Wide Range of Maritime Tasks
The IMA handles seamen’s certification and crew issues. It is responsible for implementing the international Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Furthermore, it administrates the activities of manning and dispensation committees and issues STCW, professional diving and pilots’ certificates.
The legal and regulatory framework for shipping is becoming increasingly international in character with the introduction of harmonized rules in fields such as vessel construction, vessel equipment and marine telecommunications. The IMA is responsible for preparing and publicizing the adoption of new maritime legislation. It also publishes marine safety training materials and promotes training in other ways. Vessel registration is the oldest task at the IMA, which has a statutory responsibility for maintaining the main register of ships.
Ship Surveillance division
3 divisions, 15 employees, 2 district offices
Ship technical section – 6 employees
Port state control section – 2 employees
Surveillance section – 6 employees
Ship technical section - main tasks:
- Review and approval of drawings and technical data (new buildings, modifications)
- Tonnage measurements, review and approval of calculations, tonnage certificates
- Review and approval of stability calculations, inclining tests
- Technical assistance / appraisal to ship owners, shipyards, designers
- Import of ships, for registration
- Approval of safety and ship equipment
- Technical assistance in regard to regulations
- Other assignments
Port state control section - main tasks:
- Port State Control Inspections: 25 % commitment, CIC, seminars, meetings
- Maritime Security (ISPS Code): ship securtiy, port facility security
- Dangerous Goods (IMDG Code): stowage, cargo securing, storage
- Safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers
- ISM audits
- SOPEP approval (MARPOL Convention)
- Other assignments
Surveillance division - main tasks:
- Issue ship certificates:
Periodic ship certificates, e.g. certificate of seaworthiness, safety certificates, IOPP certificates
- Survey of non - classed ships:
Non-classed ships not surveyed by inpection bodies with A accreditation
- Initial survey:
Newbuildings, modifications of a major character, imported ships
- Survey/inspection/assessment of newbuildings, modification of a major character
for ships 15 metres in length overall and over
- Assessment of inspection bodies - type A accreditation:
Audits, random / scheduled inspections
- Assessment of inspection bodies - type B accreditation
Audits, random / scheduled inspections
- Assessment of classification societies
Audits, random / scheduled inspections
- Assessment of various licences
Passenger licence, rafting, etc.
- Market surveillance of recreational craft and equipment
CE marking of crafts and equipment
- Assessment of survey reports and information, verification with database
Inspection bodies type A and B accreditation
- Random inspections
Inspection in regard to specific items, main focus on life saving equipment in
co operation with the Icelandic Coast Guard
- Complaint in regard to accredited inspection bodies
- Meetings, joint projects with accredited inspection bodies
- Planing and review of inspection handbooks and survey report
- Customer service
- Assisstance to other sections or divisions of IMA and other assignments