Requirements for approved marine equipment
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If there is difference between the Icelandic version and the English, the Icelandic version is valid.
Introduction
If marine equipment fulfils the requirements of regulations, it shall be considered approved if it is MED approved (steering wheel marked).
Overview of Government approved marine equipment is available below. This is not an exhaustive list:
Requirements for marine equipment on board vessels used for commercial purposes
The marine equipment and approval/verification requirements can be found in:
Regulation No. 122/2004 on the safety of fishing vessels of 15 m in length overall and over (refers to, e.g., marine equipment regulation and directive, Article 4 and Chapter VII, Regulation 3(1)) 1.1. In some cases, the Regulation does contain Icelandic requirements for equipment.
All marine equipment must be approved by the Administration (Chapter VII, regulation 3(1).
Steering wheel-marked equipment may be used, despite Icelandic special requirements, subject to the approval of the Icelandic Transportation Authority, as described below.
Regulation No. 666/2001 on the safety of passenger ships engaged on domestic voyages with a registration length of over 24 m (refers, inter alia, to the marine equipment Regulation and Directive, Article 5, Paragraph 4 and Chapter III, Regulations 1 and 2)
There are no special Icelandic requirements in the Regulation
Marine equipment shall comply with SOLAS and the LSA Code and be approved by the Administration, cf. SOLAS (Section III, Regulations 1 and 2, and the provisions of Regulation No 666/2001)
Ship-borne steering wheel-marked equipment meets the said requirements.
Regulation No. 189/1994 on life-saving appliances and safety equipment of Icelandic ships, i.e. for vessels other than those mentioned in items 1 and 2 above (equipment subject to approval by the Icelandic Transport Authority, Article 2.1)
The Icelandic Transport Authority makes the same demands here, in principle, as in Regulation No. 122/2004 (see further discussion below).
Regulation No. 989/2016 on marine equipment (with reference to marine equipment Directive 2014/90/EU). Equipment that meets the regulation is steering wheel-marked.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1158 of 22 June 2021 on design, construction and performance requirements and testing standards for marine equipment and repealing Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1170 (continuously updating the Regulation)
Requirements for marine equipment are not fully harmonised across ship types. Icelandic special requirements for fishing vessels of 15 m in length and over are, for example, in force, but no Icelandic special requirements for passenger vessels covered by Regulation No. 666/2001. Furthermore, all life-saving appliances shall be approved/verified by the Icelandic Transport Authority in accordance with Regulation No. 189/1994. However, the requirements for the appliance is not outlined in all cases in the Regulation.
Generally, the Icelandic Transport Authority approves/verifies steering wheel-marked equipment as acceptable. If Icelandic special requirements are also in force, the equipment shall be considered to meet requirements if it is considered by the Icelandic Transport Agency to be equivalent to equipment according to Icelandic requirements. The reasons for this include:
That Directive 97/70/EC (implemented by Icelandic Regulation No. 122/2004) and Directive 2009/45/EC (implemented by Icelandic Regulation. No 666/2001) together with SOLAS assume that the steering wheel-marked marine equipment is considered as generally approved/verified. (SOLAS = Safety of Life at Sea)
The Administration considers that marine equipment that is internationally recognised, and therefore steering wheel-marked applies in all cases and no distinction is made with regard to the type of ship (for example, that no other requirements for marine equipment apply for a fishing vessel than for a passenger vessel).
Example of approved marine equipment
Below are a few examples of which equipment is approved/verified by the Administration.
Example 1 - immersion suits (all vessels):
There are different versions of steering wheel-marked immersion suits (with/without insulation, with adequate floats or where a life jacket with the suit must be used). Sees the Icelandic requirement in accordance with regulations. No 122/2004 is that rescue suits must be isolation (ships operating in the North Sea area, Chapter VII, Regulation 9, item 9. 6 and Rule 25, item No. 4) and an adequate fleet (chapter VII, Regulation 25, item IV). 4), without the need to use a life jacket. Only a rescue suit fitted with a steering wheel-marked with insulation and adequate float is approved/approved by the Icelandic Transportation Office, as Icelandic ships are generally operated in the Northern Sea Area.
Example 2 - rubber lifeboat (all ships except 4 persons):
A steering wheel-marked inflatable liferaft is approved/verified by the Icelandic Transport Authority and does not need to comply with Icelandic special provisions for the design and manufacture of inflatable liferafts, such as circular openings, etc. Icelandic special provisions regarding the design and manufacture of inflatable liferafts are, therefore, optional. For the 4-person inflatable liferaft and equipment of inflatable liferafts, see below.
Example 3 - Release and launching equipment (OLSEN, SIGMUND, GENERGY), where required:
A releasing and launching appliance is a special Icelandic device and not available as a steering wheel-marked alternative, replacing it with the same function. Therefore, the Icelandic Transport Authority continues to need to approve/verify release and launching appliances.
Example 4 - Removal equipment (e.g. OLSEN), where required:
Icelandic Releasing and launching appliance is available, approved by the Icelandic Transport Authority in accordance with Icelandic requirements. Such equipment shall be approved/verified by the Icelandic Transportation Authority.
Example 5 - life jackets (all ships):
Steering wheel-marked life jackets are approved/verified by the Icelandic Transport Authority and do not need to comply with the Icelandic special provisions regarding crotch straps for vessels subject to Regulation No. 122/2004 and Regulation No. 189/1994. The crotch strap is therefore optional.
Information on the main aspects of life-saving appliances and safety equipment of Icelandic ships.
All life-saving and safety appliances and associated equipment, including mandatory navigational equipment, are subject to the approval of the Icelandic Transport Authority. Any craft or vessel subject to these rules shall at all times carry the equipment required by this Regulation and the equipment specified for the size of the vessel in the corresponding tables in Regulation No. 189/1994, as amended, see Article 2.
Further information
For further information, contact the Maritime Section of the Icelandic Transport Authority via email: sigling@samgongustofa.is
Service provider
The Icelandic Transport Authority