Search and Rescue in the Icelandic Search And Rescue Region, (SRR)
Icelandic Coast Guard, (ICG) is responsible for coordination and execution of all maritime and aeronautical Search And Rescue (SAR) operations in the Icelandic SRR. ICG operates the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Iceland, at its operations centre in Reykjavik
JRCC Iceland responsibilities are based on regulation no. 71 dated January 11. 2011, REGULATION On the Control of the Search and Rescue In the Search and Rescue Region of Iceland For a Maritime- and Aeronautical Rescue[HS1]
ICG controllers dispatch rescue assets and coordinate the SAR effort. Normal staffing is 3-4 controllers (officers), more are available if needed.
The ICG´s area of operations is the sea around Iceland, i.e. internal waters, territorial waters, the economic zone and the waters over the continental shelf, as well as the high seas as defined by international law. The Icelandic SAR area (SRR) first and foremost covers most of the Icelandic economic zone, but according to the definition given by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as well as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Iceland is responsible for SAR activities in an area which is much larger, around 1.8 million square kilometres or almost twice as large as the economic zone. The ICG also undertakes particular tasks ashore in co-operation with police and other authorities.
The Search and Rescue Region is delimited by the following coordinates:
73° 00‘ N, 20°00‘ W
73° 00‘ N, 00° 00‘W
61° 00‘ N, 00° 00‘W
61° 00‘ N, 30°00‘ V
58° 30‘ N, 30°00‘W
58° 30‘ N, 43°00‘W
63° 30‘ N, 39°00‘W
70° 00‘ N, 20°00‘W
73° 00‘ N, 20°00‘W
A Rescue Centre for mariners and aircrafts - The Control of Rescue Operations
The Chief of Police is responsible for aircraft incidents on land.
Area of Operations
According to these international definitions, the ICG´s area of operations reaches to an area north of Jan Mayen in the North, eastwards to 000° longitude, southeast to the Faroese Islands and from there west to Cape Farewell, or Hvarf (Uummannarsuaq). From ther north east along the East Coast of Greenland to an area north of Jan Mayen. This is a huge area with difficult waters. Although the ICG bears responsibility for SAR operations in this area, it is not necessarily always Icelandic vessels or aircraft which are called for duty. Emergency assistance to ships, boats or aircraft may be given by a number of different forms of international cooperation, but final responsibility for all operations will always remain in the hands of the ICG. This calls for a strong and effective cooperation with all those bearing similar responsibilities in neighbouring countries, including the Royal Danish Navy in Greenland, the Norwegian Search and Rescue Services (Redningstjenesten), The Faroese Coast Guard, the British and Canadian Coast Guards and other rescue services worldwide. In cases of missing boats or other vessels, this cooperation is sometimes on an even larger scale and rescue centres on both sides of the North Atlantic enter intensive communication and cooperation.