Iceland - Facts

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  • ALERT: Volcanic eruptions began in Geldingadalir on the Reykjanes Peninsula, SW Iceland, in December 2023, and again on January 14th 2024 affecting the small fishing town of Grindavik. Experts say this could be the start of a period of prolonged volcanic activity. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) has the latest news and alerts.
  • Isolated in the North Atlantic with Greenland its only neighbor, Iceland consists of one main island and numerous smaller ones. Visited by only the most intrepid yachts during its short summer, a passage to Iceland and a cruise along its rugged coasts offers an experience difficult to match anywhere else in the North Atlantic.
  • Although there are not many local yachts, repair facilities are relatively good, particularly in active fishing harbours such as Reykjavik, Isafjördur and Olafsvik. Reykjavik and Keflavik are the most frequented in Iceland, although visiting yachts are few in number.
  • The authorities are keen to encourage yachts to visit and attempt to make it attractive for yachts with simple formalities and no entry/departure costs as yet for pleasure yachts.
  • A feature along the Icelandic shores are orange huts, set up as refuges for shipwrecked sailors. Every hut has some emergency supplies and a radiotelephone.
  • Although a member of the European Economic Area, Iceland is not a member of the EU. Iceland is a member of the Schengen states.

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Iceland was last updated 3 months ago.

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  1. September 1, 2024 at 4:36 PM
    profile photo
    Sailors for Sustainability says:

    Clearance update August 2024:
    Some 30nm from the coast the coastguard called us and requested us to email with the following info to sar@lhg.is :
    INFORMATION ON VESSEL:
    VESSEL NAME
    CALLSIGN
    FLAG
    POB
    LAST PORT OF CALL
    NEXT PORT OF CALL
    ETA (DATE AND TIME)

    INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE ON BOARD THE VESSEL:
    FULL NAME
    GENDER
    DATE OF BIRTH
    NATIONALITY
    PASSPORT ID

    When we arrived in Reykjavik, immigration and customs officers visited. We willed out the relevant customs forms there.

  2. May 27, 2020 at 8:40 AM
    stefgiud says:

    COVID 19

    Iceland is open for UK/EU pleasure crafts. As for now there is a 14 days quarantine that begins when you left the last port before reaching Iceland, and includes the time being at sea.
    No later than June 15th there will be testing (or quarantine) for all incoming visitors and nationals, made by the Landspitali teams, in Reykjavik area. Tests will be free until end of June, after this the cost will be 50 000 ISK per test. Results are expected within 24h.

    It is also important to note the exact definition of quarantine in Iceland : it only means you cannot meet other people (than the ones you are living in with) and so you can take your boat and sail, walk ashore, and so on, as long as you do not meet other people, especially inside buildings.
    https://www.landlaeknir.is/servlet/file/store93/item40946/KSJ%20Instructions%20for%20the%20general%20public%20on%20home-based%20quarantine%2004.04.2020.pdf

    1. May 29, 2020 at 5:32 PM
      profile photo
      Sue Richards says:

      Great information, thanks so much.