English
Icelandic Coast Guard - Always Prepared
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The motto of the ICG, “Always Prepared”, broadly points to the activities of the Icelandic Coast Guard, both for the present and in the future. The slogan applies to all the ICG’s duties, whether it is search and rescue at sea or on land, law enforcement, hydrographic survey, or other tasks with which the personnel of the ICG are entrusted. The core meaning behind this motto is to be prepared for everything at all times. The ICG is an established organisation whose primary responsibilities are more or less the same today as they were in the beginning, although the number of tasks has increased considerably. The main changes involve participation in multinational co-operation efforts regarding the monitoring of fisheries in the ocean, defence against international terrorism, as well as applying a great deal more emphasis on pollution control at sea. The ICG’s personnel now number over one hundred and fourty, belonging to 15 different labour unions. Today, the primary tasks of the ICG are law enforcement and patrol of the sea around Iceland, the responsibility for and management of maritime search and rescue, assistance in rescue operations on land, airborne ambulance service, hydrographic survey, nautical charting and bomb disposal. Every day, personnel of the ICG deal with very varied tasks, and no two days are the same. |
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The minister of Justice undertakes superior administration of the entire activities of the Coast Guard and will issue necessary Reglulations or instructions relating to the general administration of its various sectors. |
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The main tasks of the Coast Guard are based on the need for a general policing of the ocean |
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The missions are listed in Article 1. of the Act N° 52 of 2006, respecting the Icelandic Coast Guard. |
History
The Icelandic Coast Guard was formally established on 1 July 1926, because on this day, the Icelandic Government took over the operation of the ship Thor from the Westman Islands’ Rescue Association. The first purpose-built Icelandic patrol vessel, Óðinn, arrived in the country on 23 June 1926. With the extension of the territorial waters, first to 4 nautical miles in the year 1952, then to 12 nautical miles in 1958, to 50 nautical miles in 1972, and finally to 200 nautical miles in 1975, Iceland’s fishing jurisdiction grew substantially. All the so-called “Cod Wars” ended successfully for Iceland, the conclusion of which had an influence on fisheries protection at an international level.
News
October 28th, 2009
US Coast Guard Cutter Alexander Hamilton found by Icelandic Coast Guard with the aid of a Gavia Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. Press release.
March 20th, 2009
Visit of the Danish Minister for Defence to the Icelandic Coast Guard
Sören Gade, Danish Minister for Defence, had a meeting this morning with Georg Larusson, the Director General of the Icelandic Coast Guard in the Coast Guards headquarters in Reykjavik. On the agenda was the co-operation between the Icelandic Coast Guard and Danish military authorities in accordance with the MOU between the Ministry of Justice in Iceland and the Ministry of Defence of Denmark signed on 11th January 2007.
Their discussion involved maritime security in the North Atlantic Ocean, joint exercises, EOD, Icelandic Coast Guard´s air divisions alert in connection with the Denmarks Air Policing program in Iceland, also future developments in the co operation. Both parties agreed on the importance of the co-operation, important changes are under way in the High North. The region´s energy resources are getting more accessible and at the same time new trans-arctic shipping routes are opening.
New opportunities and challenges require close cooperation in the area. The Defence Minister mentioned the possibility to involve the Icelandic Coast Guard in the marittime surveillance around Greenland and Faroe Islands after delivery of the new Dash – 8 aircraft this year. By the new aircraft the Coast Guard is much better equipped for Maritime Surveillance and Pollution Detection than before. The aircraft is of the same type as now being used by the Swedish Coast Guard and with the same equipment package. This new aircraft can be used for Maritime Surveillance and exchange of surveillance data in adjacent areas in addition to the existing surveillance data exchange.
Iceland and Denmark have for the last two years worked inside the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum. Denmark took the Chairmanship of the NACGF after the formal establishment in Sweden in October 2007. Iceland took over the chairmanship in September 2008 and has to large extent continued the standards set by Denmark.
