Icelandic Seafarers' Rights (2026): Catch Shares, STCW-F and Immigration (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements
About this article
Sourced from Icelandic Acts of the Althingi, statutory instruments, and official guidance. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Crews on Icelandic fishing vessels work under a unique blend of labour law, maritime law and fisheries law. Pay is based on catch shares rather than a fixed wage, safety and certification are tightly regulated under the 2022 crewing law, and disputes go through a specialised resolution process (the Catch Price Office, the Arbitration Committee of Seamen and Vessel Operators, and the Labour Court):
- Crew contract (skiprúmssamningur): Sjómannalög nr. 35/1985 govern hiring, the ship's log, dismissal (§ 9), working and rest time (§§ 64-65) and sick and injury pay (§ 36, forfallakaup).
- The catch-share system: the crew receives a proportion of the share value (skiptaverðmæti) — the value of the catch less the permitted deductions under Lög nr. 24/1986. The specific percentages come from the collective agreement between SFS and the seamen's unions — they are agreed, not statutory.
- The guaranteed minimum (tryggingalaun / kauptrygging): rooted in law (§ 36 of Sjómannalög), but the amount is set in each collective agreement.
- Crewing and certification: Lög nr. 82/2022 is the law in force (effective 1 January 2023) and replaces Lög nr. 30/2007. The Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa) handles professional certificates, the registration of seamen, STCW-F certificates and minimum-crewing decisions.
- Catch weighing (Reglugerð nr. 745/2016): all landed catch is weighed in port on a certified harbour scale. The cap on the ice deduction is 3%; a larger deduction requires re-weighing with the permission of the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskistofa).
- Unions and disputes: the main unions are SSÍ (deckhands), VM (engineers) and the Association of Ship Captains and Officers (officers). Disputes over the interpretation of a collective agreement go solely before the Labour Court (Félagsdómur) under Lög nr. 80/1938. Individual claims for wages or shares go before the District Court.
- Accident reporting: a duty to report without undue delay to the Transport Accident Investigation Board (Rannsóknarnefnd samgönguslysa, RNSA) under Lög nr. 18/2013 § 16. 24-hour line: 660 0336.
- Immigration for non-EEA crew: the employer applies for both a work permit (the Directorate of Labour, Lög nr. 97/2002) and a residence permit (the Directorate of Immigration, Lög nr. 80/2016); foreign officers' certificates require an STCW-F endorsement from Samgöngustofa.
When does it apply?
- You are a skipper, mate, engineer, deckhand or cook on an Icelandic fishing vessel.
- You are in a dispute about a deduction from your share, the catch value, the guaranteed wage, sick pay or dismissal.
- You or someone in your crew has been injured on board, or an accident needs to be reported to the RNSA.
- You are a non-EEA worker joining the Icelandic fishing fleet and need both a work permit and a residence permit.
- Your trade union is in a collective dispute with the company and the matter has been referred to the Labour Court (Félagsdómur).
What to do if you work on an Icelandic fishing vessel and are in a dispute about your share, safety or immigration
- Read your collective agreement alongside §§ 64-65 of Sjómannalög — it sets your share, the guaranteed wage, working and rest time and how deductions from the share value apply to you.
- Check the catch weighing: confirm that the harbour scale is certified, that the ice deduction is 3% or less and that any re-weighing had valid permission from the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskistofa).
- Certifications: keep your professional certificate and STCW-F valid through the Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa). Non-EEA officers need a Samgöngustofa endorsement on their foreign certificate.
- Accident on board: claim sick/injury pay (§ 36 of Sjómannalög) and crew insurance (Siglingalög § 172). All accidents must be reported to the RNSA — the board is independent and cannot apportion blame.
- Share dispute: first raise the matter within the trade union. Catch-price disputes go to the Catch Price Office (Verðlagsstofa skiptaverðs) and, if unresolved, to the Arbitration Committee of Seamen and Vessel Operators (Lög nr. 13/1998). Interpretation of collective agreements goes before the Labour Court (Félagsdómur).
- Immigration: have your employer apply to the Directorate of Labour (work permit) and the Directorate of Immigration (residence permit). Since Lög nr. 56/2023 the earlier requirement of 2 years' residence abroad before re-applying for a permit in a shortage occupation has been repealed.
- Changing vessels: the work permit generally expires with the employment. A new employer must apply for a new permit before you start.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't accept an unlawful deduction from the share value — e.g. having quota rent deducted from the crew's share. Check this against Lög nr. 24/1986 and the collective agreement.
- Don't rely on outdated section numbers. Lög nr. 30/2007 has been repealed by Lög nr. 82/2022 (effective 1 January 2023) — older guidance is wrong.
- Don't neglect to report an accident to the RNSA — skippers, owners, the Coast Guard, the police, ports, customs and insurers all have a duty to report under Lög nr. 18/2013 § 16.
- Don't exceed the working-time limits in §§ 64-65 of Sjómannalög and §§ 20-22 of Lög nr. 82/2022 — breaches of the rest rules can invalidate the watch schedule and lead to action by Samgöngustofa.
- Don't assume you can change vessels on your current permit — the work permit is tied to the employer and a new employer must apply separately.
- Don't bypass the trade union in a share or contract dispute — the Labour Court (Félagsdómur) is the only forum for interpreting collective agreements, and trade unions have standing there that you do not.
About Workers' Rights in Iceland
Work in Iceland is built on collective agreements — there is no statutory minimum wage. The Trade Unions and Labour Disputes Act (Lög nr. 80/1938) and the Act on Workers' Terms of Employment (Lög nr. 55/1980) make agreed pay scales binding on every employee and employer covered by the agreement. Workplace safety falls under Lög nr. 46/1980; parental leave under Lög nr. 95/2000 provides 12 months in total, of which 6 are reserved for each parent. Equal-pay certification is mandatory for companies with 25+ employees under Lög nr. 150/2020. Collective disputes go before the Labour Court (Félagsdómur); individual disputes before the district courts.
Common Questions
How do Icelandic seafarers get paid?
Under the catch-share system. The share value (skiptaverðmæti) is the value of the catch less the permitted deductions under Lög nr. 24/1986. The specific percentages — what each role receives — come from the collective agreement between SFS and the seamen's union, not from statute. The statutory guaranteed minimum (tryggingalaun / kauptrygging) is grounded in § 36 of Sjómannalög, but the amounts are agreed.
What are the Icelandic laws on crewing and certification at sea?
Lög nr. 82/2022 (effective 1 January 2023) — the law in force. It replaced Lög nr. 30/2007, which was repealed. The Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa) handles professional certificates, the registration of seamen, STCW-F certificates and minimum-crewing decisions. Working and rest time is set in §§ 64-65 of Sjómannalög and §§ 20-22 of Lög nr. 82/2022, which implement Directive 1999/63/EC.
Where do I take a dispute about my Icelandic crew contract?
It depends on the matter. Interpretation of collective agreements goes solely before the Labour Court (Félagsdómur) under Lög nr. 80/1938. Individual claims for wages or shares go before the District Court. Catch-price disputes are first taken to the Catch Price Office (Verðlagsstofa skiptaverðs) and then to the Arbitration Committee of Seamen and Vessel Operators under Lög nr. 13/1998. Accidents go to the RNSA for investigation.
What is the rule on the ice deduction in Icelandic catch weighing?
Reglugerð nr. 745/2016 caps the ice deduction at 3% of the weighed catch on a certified harbour scale. A larger deduction requires re-weighing under the permission of the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskistofa). This is a key point in disputes over share-based pay — an overstated ice deduction lowers the share value and therefore the crew's pay.
Can a non-EEA seafarer change Icelandic vessels on the same work permit?
Generally no. The work permit under Lög nr. 97/2002 is tied to the employer — it expires with the employment relationship. A new employer must apply for a new permit to the Directorate of Labour before the worker starts. Since Lög nr. 56/2023 the earlier requirement of 2 years' residence abroad before re-applying for a permit in a shortage occupation has been repealed.
What is the seafarers: catch shares, hiring, safety and immigration right in Iceland?
Crews on Icelandic fishing vessels work under a unique blend of labour law, maritime law and fisheries law. Pay is based on catch shares rather than a fixed wage, safety and certification are tightly regulated under the 2022 crewing law, and disputes go through a specialised resolution process (the Catch Price Office, the Arbitration Committee of Seamen and Vessel Operators, and the Labour Court):Crew contract (skiprúmssamningur): Sjómannalög nr. 35/1985 govern hiring, the ship's log, dismissal (§ 9), working and rest time (§§ 64-65) and sick and injury pay (§ 36, forfallakaup).The...
When does it apply — seafarers: catch shares, hiring, safety and immigration?
You are a skipper, mate, engineer, deckhand or cook on an Icelandic fishing vessel.You are in a dispute about a deduction from your share, the catch value, the guaranteed wage, sick pay or dismissal.You or someone in your crew has been injured on board, or an accident needs to be reported to the RNSA.You are a non-EEA worker joining the Icelandic fishing fleet and need both a work permit and a residence permit.Your trade union is in a collective dispute with the company and the matter has been referred to the Labour Court (Félagsdómur).
What should I do if I am a crew member on an Icelandic fishing vessel and am in a dispute about my share, working time or an accident on board?
Read your collective agreement alongside §§ 64-65 of Sjómannalög — it sets your share, the guaranteed wage, working and rest time and how deductions from the share value apply to you.Check the catch weighing: confirm that the harbour scale is certified, that the ice deduction is 3% or less and that any re-weighing had valid permission from the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskistofa).Certifications: keep your professional certificate and STCW-F valid through the Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa). Non-EEA officers need a Samgöngustofa endorsement on their foreign certificate.Accident...
What should you NOT do — seafarers: catch shares, hiring, safety and immigration?
Don't accept an unlawful deduction from the share value — e.g. having quota rent deducted from the crew's share. Check this against Lög nr. 24/1986 and the collective agreement.Don't rely on outdated section numbers. Lög nr. 30/2007 has been repealed by Lög nr. 82/2022 (effective 1 January 2023) — older guidance is wrong.Don't neglect to report an accident to the RNSA — skippers, owners, the Coast Guard, the police, ports, customs and insurers all have a duty to report under Lög nr. 18/2013 § 16.Don't exceed the working-time limits in §§ 64-65 of Sjómannalög and §§ 20-22 of Lög nr. 82/2022 —...