The fleet that vanished
Iceland's lifeline under foreign flags
In 1987, 39 merchant vessels were registered in Iceland. Today, not a single cargo ship sails under the Icelandic flag. More than 90% of all our trade in goods arrives by sea. This applies not only to consumer goods but to the foundations of Icelandic food production and industry: fertiliser for fields, spare parts for agricultural machinery, feed for salmon farming, and steel and timber for construction…
In 1987, 39 merchant vessels were registered in Iceland. Today, not a single cargo ship sails under the Icelandic flag. More than 90% of all our trade in goods arrives by sea. This applies not only to consumer goods but to the foundations of Icelandic food production and industry: fertiliser for fields, spare parts for agricultural machinery, feed for salmon farming, and steel and timber for construction all arrive here on ships that are, without exception, registered abroad.
Ship registration is not merely a question of national pride; it is a fundamental issue of national security.
Legal uncertainty in times of conflict
Iceland today has a general ship registry, but no active international ship registry, and Icelandic shipping companies therefore choose to operate their vessels under the flags of other states, such as the Faroe Islands, Norway or the Netherlands. Registration determines which state has jurisdiction over a vessel, and in an emergency, such as an international armed conflict, the flag states can call the ships into service for their own purposes. In that situation, Iceland would be left without any legal means of securing its own lifelines.
The agreement route: a bridge to a better ship registry
In the longer term, Iceland needs to have its own competitive ship registry and to ensure that a sufficient number of vessels are registered on it. This is necessary in order to regain control of the fleet in an emergency. Such a registry would need to be built on a framework similar to the international ship registries operated by our neighbours. That requires time and political prioritisation. In the meantime, we should not sit idly by.
In an analysis published today, Varða – a think tank on national security – proposes that the Icelandic government explore cooperation with the Faroese Maritime Authority (FMA) on the operation of an Icelandic international ship registry. Iceland would set the legal framework and retain full flag-state and jurisdictional powers, while entrusting the day-to-day operation of the registry to an institution that Icelandic shipping companies already know and trust. Icelandic-owned vessels currently registered on the Faroese international ship registry could thus transfer to the Icelandic flag without any change in service, and Iceland would thereby regain jurisdiction over the ships that carry goods to the country.
Resilience is a choice
Society's resilience depends on our having control over our own supplies. In a world of growing uncertainty, it is essential that Iceland regain control over shipping to the country.
Inaction is not an option when national security is at stake. We need both short-term solutions in cooperation with our neighbours and a long-term vision of a strong Icelandic ship registry. The question is simple: will we continue to rely entirely on the goodwill of others, or will we secure our own lifelines?
Translated from the Icelandic original — read it here.