Several guests, including the Minister of Trade and Shipping in 1987, Mr. Kurt Mosbakk, has been invited by The Director General of Shipping and Navigation, Mr. Olav Akselsen, to take part in the celebrations.
- The NIS is still important for Norway as a maritime nation, says Mr. Akselsen.

The register was established on 1 July 1987 in order to ensure that Norwegian ships sailed under the Norwegian flag. The competitive terms for the Norwegian-registered ships engaged in foreign trade were to be improved and the employment of Norwegian sailors maintained.

The Government’s proposal for a Norwegian international ship register was also based on the benefits that would follow in its wake, both for the maritime cluster and the community as a whole.

Increased foreign exchange and tax revenues and a larger fleet would provide an increased domestic market for Norwegian maritime goods, services and expertise. The goal was to make Norway a world leader in terms of maritime services.

At Christmas time in 1986 the Government declared that the work of establishing a Norwegian international ship register had started. Almost immediately, a number of the country's maritime cities were suggested as possible "home ports" to the register. Among them were solid maritime cities like Grimstad, Arendal and Sandefjord. Shipping Forum Bergen and Bergen Shipowners' Association fought for the NIS to be placed "in the heart of the coastal and marine Norway". The City Manager of Bergen was on their side and all promotional work came up with positive results when the Norwegian Parliament on 12 June chose Bergen as location for the new register.

While Mr. Kurt Mosbakk, the Minister of Trade and Shipping at the time, officially opened the register, shipowners fought to have the first ship registered. Through contacts, Mr. Atle Jebsen’s representative had been admitted to the courthouse in the middle of the night and was, therefore, able to register the first ship in the name of Sapco Overseas SA, Panama. The first year the NIS was the fastest growing ship register in the world.

On 1 January 2012 the Norwegian Ship Registers NIS/NOR were merged with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate to form the new Norwegian Maritime Authority.
The new administration will continue to provide the good service that characterizes the NIS, an element in securing the NIS as a competitive register.

Monday 25 June the anniversary will be marked with a short seminar and lunch. The Director General of Shipping and Navigation, Mr. Olav Akselsen, has invited the Mayor of Bergen, city council leader, representatives of the maritime industry and the Department of Trade and Industry as well as the staff at the register. The celebration takes place in the same premises as the opening on 1 July 1987: Grand reception rooms in Bergen.

For further information, kindly contact:

The Director of Communication and Public Relations, Mr. Eilif Fjon, phone: + 47　416 35222.

Appointments for interviews with The Director General of Shipping and Navigation, Mr. Olav Akselsen, may be scheduled through Mr. Fjon.