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The Electronic Communications Office of Iceland Frontpage
The Electronic Communications Office of Iceland Frontpage

Electronic Communications Office

Maritime and aviation communications

Reliable and dependable communications at sea and in the air are essential for communication, information exchange, and safety. Therefore, the telecommunications equipment used on ships and aircraft must comply with national and international requirements.

Maritime Communications

Maritime communications are an important part of safety and operations at sea. To ensure secure communications, vessels must be equipped with the appropriate telecommunications equipment, comply with international regulations, and undergo regular inspections. ECOI oversees the administration and supervision of maritime communications in Iceland, is responsible for the overall supervision of inspections of telecommunications equipment, and issues licences for the use of telecommunications equipment.

Inspection of Telecommunications Equipment and Issuance of Safety Certificates

Telecommunications equipment on board ships must be inspected and assessed annually. In all cases, inspectors complete inspection reports. ECOI conducts inspections of telecommunications equipment on all fishing vessels longer than 24 metres, as well as on other fishing vessels operating outside Sea Area A1. Following the inspection, the Icelandic Transport Authority issues a safety certificate for these vessels. Accredited inspection bodies inspect telecommunications equipment on boats and vessels that operate exclusively within area A1. These inspection bodies submit inspection reports to ECOI, which then issues safety certificates for the relevant vessels. Inspections of passenger ships, cargo ships, and other vessels are carried out by the ECOI. Based on the inspection report, ECOI issues safety certificates for these vessels. The primary purpose of monitoring telecommunications equipment on ships is to ensure that the equipment is functioning properly and can serve its role as safety equipment. This monitoring forms part of the overall inspection system for boats and ships overseen by the Icelandic Transport Authority and serves as a basis for the issuance of seaworthiness certificates. The inspection system consists of several layers:

  1. A licence issued by the telecommunications regulatory authority of the relevant country (the Electronic Communications Office in Iceland) certifying that the vessel may use the listed equipment on international frequencies. The licence is part of the mandatory documentation that must be carried on board and is therefore checked during inspections. A new licence is issued if there are changes to the vessel’s telecommunications equipment, a change of vessel name, a change of ownership (change of operator), relocation, or a change in district number.

  2. When inspection bodies carry out inspections on board a vessel, an inspection report is produced documenting the inspection results. Inspections are recorded electronically in the Skútan system maintained by the Icelandic Transport Authority.

  3. A safety certificate is then issued by the Electronic Communications Office if all required inspections have been completed without deficiencies (except for category 3 findings).

  4. Once all required safety certificates covering the vessel’s equipment have been obtained, the Icelandic Transport Authority issues a temporary safety certificate (seaworthiness certificate).

Aviation Communications

Special regulations apply to communications with aircraft and to telecommunications equipment carried on board aircraft.

Licence for Telecommunications Equipment

All telecommunications equipment carried on board aircraft must have a licence issued by the Electronic Communications Office.

Application for a licence for equipment installed in an aircraft.

Persons responsible for communications on board aircraft must hold the required qualifications and authorisations.