The Icelandic Coast Guard is among those who are examining the legal status of crew members of cruise ships using the vessels’ rescue boats to take passengers on sightseeing trips, including to nature reserves.
The actions are considered particularly worrisome as it is thought that there are no Icelanders with the proper knowledge of the area, or other guides, on board. Landings are dangerous in some places, visir.is reports.
Haukur Vagnsson, a captain who has witnessed the practice, said he is concerned about the development. “At many of these places, the weather can naturally change very quickly and it can also be very difficult to bring the boat to land in some areas.”
Cruise ships have been getting some bad press in Iceland in recent days. Earlier this week it was reported that one cruise ship docked for 24 hours emits the same amount of nitrogen into the atmosphere as 10,000 cars, according to a recent article published by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH). Concerns have been raised about the lack of laws in Icelandic jurisdiction on ship exhaust emissions.
