About Iron Sea
Independent flag state inspection and marine survey services, based in Gijón and covering every commercial port on Spain's northern coast.
Illya Gitlevych
Flag State Inspector & Marine Surveyor
Illya's career began at sea, progressing through the ranks to command as a Master Mariner before moving ashore to focus on inspection and survey work. That seagoing background — running vessels, managing crews, and working directly with statutory and class requirements — now underpins every inspection and survey Iron Sea carries out.
Illya is directly authorized to conduct flag state inspections and statutory certificate endorsements on behalf of:
- • Liberia — LISCR (Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry)
- • Marshall Islands — RMIRS (Republic of the Marshall Islands Registry)
- • Malta — Transport Malta
Our mission
Iron Sea exists to raise the standard of maritime safety and regulatory compliance across northern Spain — giving shipowners, managers, and charterers a single, accountable point of contact for flag state inspections and independent surveys, delivered in person at every port from the Basque Country to Galicia.
Why Iron Sea exists
Vessels calling at northern Spain's ports have historically had to route flag state inspections and independent surveys through inspectors based elsewhere in Spain or abroad, adding delay and cost at exactly the moment a fast, in-person response matters most. Iron Sea was founded to close that gap: a single, directly authorized inspector and surveyor based in Gijón, able to reach any port on the northern coast quickly and give owners, managers, and charterers a straightforward, accountable service — no subcontracting, no hand-offs, no delay.
Our values
Independence
Every inspection and survey is carried out directly by Iron Sea — no subcontracted reports, no conflicts of interest, no diluted accountability.
Technical rigor
Findings are grounded in the applicable flag, class, and industry standards — thorough, well-documented, and defensible under scrutiny.
Responsiveness
Ports don't wait, and neither do we. Scheduling is fast and communication is direct, from first enquiry to final report.
Integrity
Reports reflect exactly what was found — clear, honest, and useful to owners, managers, and charterers making real decisions.
Work with Iron Sea
Get in touch to schedule a flag state inspection, survey, or audit at your next northern Spain port call.
Get in Touch