Icelandic Maritime Administration Act (No. 6/1996, cf. Act No. 38/1997)

N:\Word skjöl\Lög og reglur\Law on the IMA.doc Sverrir Konradsson Page 1 29.03.1999 The Icelandic Maritime Administration Act No. 6/1996, cf. Act No. 38/1997 Article 1 Central Administration The Minister of Transport and Communications is responsible for centrally administrating maritime, harbour and lighthouse issues, except where otherwise decided in a different law. Article 2 The Icelandic Maritime Administration The Icelandic Maritime Administration supervises the implementation of maritime, harbour and lighthouse issues, according to this Act and other Acts on these matters. The Minister of Transport and Communications shall, upon receipt of a report from the Maritime Council, appoint a General Director of the Icelandic Maritime Administration, for a period of five years at a time. The General Director employs other personnel to the Administration. Article 3 Statutory Responsibilities of the Icelandic Maritime Administration The statutory responsibilities of the Administration are defined as follows: 1. To represent the State in the implementation of the Harbour Act. 2. To supervise State-funded projects concerning coastal protection and improvements to harbour facilities for smaller ships. 3. To supervise the implementation of legislation on control, measurement and registration of ships. 4. To supervise the implementation of legislation on lighthouses, pilotage and diving activities. 5. To assume responsibility for issues concerning legislation on measures against marine pollution and regulations issued pursuant to such legislation to the extent that they concern ships and their equipment subject to rules issued by the Minister for the Environment. 6. To assume responsibility for co-operation with international organizations and the implementation of international agreements on shipping, harbours and lighthouses to which Iceland is a party. 7. To monitor investigations of marine casualties and assist in such investigations and return reports on maritime court inquiries to the Director of Public Prosecutions. 8. To assume responsibility for matters concerning legislation on maritime issues and seafarers to the extent that such legislation concerns ships and their registration, equipment, safety and other matters which the Ministry may delegate to the Administration regarding shipping and ships’ crews. 9. To advise the government on matters coming under the responsibility of the Administration. The Icelandic Maritime Administration may, with the approval of the Minister of Transport and Communications, assign specific duties to other parties. The Icelandic Maritime Administration may, with the approval of the Minister of Transport and Communications, buy and administer the State’s shares in research and development N:\Word skjöl\Lög og reglur\Law on the IMA.doc Sverrir Konradsson Page 2 29.03.1999 companies, e.g. to promote the export of Icelandic expertise in the field of the Maritime Administration. The Minister of Transport and Communications can provide, in a regulation, for more detailed functions and procedures for the Icelandic Maritime Administration and for its specific projects. Article 4 Harbour Council The Minister of Transport and Communications appoints members to sit in the Harbour Council to act as advisors on harbour matters. The Harbour Council shall be seated by five representatives and an equal number of alternates. Thereof, two representatives shall be appointed by the Union of Icelandic Port Authorities for a period of four years at a time at the conclusion of local government elections. Three representatives shall be appointed without nomination at the conclusion of parliamentary elections, one of whom shall chair the Harbour Council. Alternate representatives shall be appointed in the same manner. Article 5 The Responsibilities of the Harbour Council The Harbour Council shall act as an advisory body for the Minister and the General Director on harbour matters and matters concerning coastal protection. The Harbour Council shall consider amendments to legislation on harbour matters, one-year project plans and plans for longer periods as well as harbour finances, including tariff changes. The Harbour Council shall meet with the representatives of seamen and shipowners at least once a year. The General Director of the Icelandic Maritime Administration attends the Council’s meetings and has the right to speak and make proposals. He may be accompanied by those employees of the Icelandic Maritime Administration whom he finds necessary or the Council may request. He shall put those matters under the responsibility of the Council up for consideration, according to the aforementioned, or as requested by the Council. Article 6 Maritime Council The Minister of Transport and Communications appoints representatives to sit in the Maritime Council for the purpose of acting as advisories on maritime issues. The Harbour Council shall be seated by eleven representatives and an equal number of alternates. Thereof, three representatives shall be appointed without nomination after parliamentary elections, one of whom shall chair the Maritime Council. Eight representatives shall be appointed, for a period of up to four years, according to a nomination by the following parties, each nominating one representative: the Merchant Navy and Fishing Vessels Officers Guild, Malmur – a Union of Companies within the Metal and Shipbuilding Industry, the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners, the National Union of Small Boat Owners, Icelandic Shipowners' Association, the Icelandic Seamen's Federation, the National Life-Saving Association of Iceland and the Association of Icelandic Marine Engineers. Alternates shall be appointed in the same manner. N:\Word skjöl\Lög og reglur\Law on the IMA.doc Sverrir Konradsson Page 3 29.03.1999 Article 7 The Responsibilities of the Maritime Council The Maritime Council shall act as an advisory body for the Minister and the General Director on maritime matters and matters concerning lighthouses. The Maritime Council shall consider amendments to legislation on maritime matters and matters concerning lighthouses. The Maritime Council shall consider matters concerning the safety of ships and seafarers as well as major reforms and changes in the system of lighthouses. The General Director of the Icelandic Maritime Administration attends the Council’s meetings and has the right to speak and make proposals. He may be accompanied by those employees of the Icelandic Maritime Administration whom he finds necessary or the Council may request. He shall put those matters under the responsibility of the Council up for consideration, according to the aforementioned, or as requested by the Council. Article 8 Application This Act takes effect immediately but will not apply until 1 October 1996. At the same time, the Directorate of Shipping Act No. 20/1986 expires.