Law No.18 of 2019 on the Supreme Iraqi Maritime Authority.

This Law consisting of 18 articles aims at (i) regulating the work of the maritime sector, adopting international standards, and develop the necessary monitoring plans; (ii) raising the level of maritime safety in line with the international conventions, as well as protecting and improving the marine environment and combating marine pollution; and (iii) strengthening the role of the private sector and encouraging investment in maritime transport. The goals of the Law will be achieved through (i) the application of international standards to ships flying the Iraqi flag and ships arriving to the ports of the Republic of Iraq or operating in Iraqi waters; (ii) cooperation with the maritime administrations and authorities and the relevant international organizations at the regional and international level; (iii) proposing legislation related to the regulation of the maritime sector; (iv) setting and implementing the general policy of the maritime sector; and (v) implementing national legislation and international maritime conventions to which Iraq is a party.
The Law establishes the Iraqi Maritime Authority, linked to the Minister of Transport, with the following main tasks (i) grant licenses to maritime companies to practice the activities of the sector, including the approval of maritime services licenses; (ii) registration of ships and issuance of certificates and related documents; (iii) issue and approve official documents for maritime workers; (iv) control and inspection of ships and their crews to ensure the safety, security and protection of the marine environment in accordance with the international maritime conventions to which the Republic of Iraq is a party; (v) contribute to the protection and improvement of the marine environment and prevent pollution; (vi) determine the rules for the safety and security of the ports in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws and international maritime agreements to which the Republic of Iraq is a party; and (vii) establish the necessary controls for the entry of ships to ports and monitoring their implementation.
The Authority has a Board of Directors which shall undertake the following tasks (i) formulate the maritime sector policy in accordance with the national economic and social plans; and (ii) approve plans, programs, projects and procedures necessary to achieve the objectives of this Law.