Address by

H.E. Ragna Árnadóttir,
Minister of Justice of Iceland,
at the

Formal Opening Session of the Summit of
the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum
Akureyri, Iceland, 29 September to 2 October 2009.

Admirals, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.   

It is both an honour and a pleasure for me to open  the  Summit of the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum.  

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This multilateral co-operation is extremely important, as it relates to the general policing of the ocean, maritime security and maritime surveillance.

With the establishment of the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum in 2007, an important step was taken to provide a realistic framework for coastguard bodies in the North Atlantic to improve maritime safety, security and environmental protection throughout the region.

This forum brings together representatives from the North Atlantic countries to facilitate multilateral cooperation on such matters as combined operations, action against illegal drug trafficking, marine security, environmental protection, information exchange, the enforcement of fisheries management measures, controls against illegal migration and search and rescue operations.  

The changing conditions in the Arctic region, and their implications for maritime security in the North Atlantic, are certainly the most important challenges we face.   With the opening up of new sea routes due to climate change, increased maritime traffic including oil and gas tankers, and also cruise ships, and increased energy transportation across the North Atlantic, we are forced to deal with a range of significant new issues, many of them relating to security. 

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Maritime issues are of central importance for Iceland. We are therefore proud to be able to play our part in facing the new challenges through the contribution by our Coast Guard to the international collaboration that is the subject of your conference here in Akureyri.

The Coast Guard enjoys particular respect and trust in Iceland.  It not only patrols and protects our fishing grounds; it also plays a vital role in search and rescue operations both at sea and on land. This side of its work is particularly important both for our seamen and the general public alike, and the whole nation regards the Coast Guard with affection and gratitude for its many exploits in this field.  Maintaining capacity at a high level and ensuring that operations go smoothly is therefore of great importance, and I should like to thank the Director and the entire staff for their excellent work.

It is important to ensure that the Icelandic Coast Guard is able to be an active and reliable contributor towards multinational co-operation in enhancing maritime safety, maritime security and environmental protection in the vast ocean area of the North Atlantic, which is the one of the toughest marine areas in the world.

Strategic decisions were taken in recent years to reinforce the capabilities of the Icelandic Coast Guard by the acquisition of a new aircraft and a new coastguard vessel.

During the turbulent economic times we are living in, this is indeed a huge challenge.  

In facing this challenge, I am encouraged by the extraordinary bravery, professionalism and dedication of the Icelandic Coast Guard personnel, and the close co-operation they enjoy with the other organisations represented here in this forum.

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The arrival of a new fixed-wing coastguard aircraft last July was indeed a cause for national celebration.

This excellent search and rescue aircraft, TF-SIF, is a Dash 8 Q 300.  It was specially designed for surveillance, search and rescue operations and medical air services in the North Atlantic region.  The acquisition of this new aircraft by the Coast Guard represents a great stride forward in surveillance and search-and-rescue work in Iceland.  It also opens up a world of opportunities in collaborative work between the Iceland Coast Guard and its counterparts in our neighbouring countries in the fields of monitoring, search-and-rescue work and resource management in the important North Atlantic marine region. This new aircraft is a vital link in this collaborative chain.

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In 2010, we look forward to welcoming a new 4,000-ton coastguard  patrol vessel which is currently being built for the Icelandic Coast Guard.  It will have a towing capacity of 120 tons and a cruising speed of 19.5 knots. It will be fitted with special anti-pollution equipment and a Dynamic Position /Joystick System (DPS) to ensure accurate control in difficult conditions. It will carry sophisticated monitoring and fire-fighting equipment, and it will be possible to use it as a mobile command centre for the direction of emergency operations, even when all normal telecommunications systems are out of order. It will also be able to carry heavy-duty rescue equipment and a large number of personnel, which could be a key factor in securing success in rescue operations.

Active participation by Iceland in collaboration on security with other nations is vital for us to guarantee quick and effective response in law-enforcement and life-saving work at sea.  I am confident that the Icelandic Coast Guard will continue to prove its worth as a reliable partner in international operations of this type in the North Atlantic, and not least following the acquisition of the new aircraft and coastguard vessel. 

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As we are faced with an economic recession of unprecedented proportions, cooperation and coordination within the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum is of immense importance for its continued endeavours to ensure security in the region.

I wish you success in your deliberations and discussions and I am indeed looking forward to hearing about your conclusions.

I declare this the Summit of the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum formally open.