New owner NOR, 15 m and more

1. Are there any mortgages registered against the vessel?

Mortgages very often contain the clause "sale and further mortgages forbidden".  The mortgagee must either consent to the sale (and possible registration of new mortgages) or sign the mortgage for deletion. The amendment must be made on the original document.

2. Bill of Sale

The vendor issues a Bill of Sale and signs it with binding signature. For companies: according to the certificate of company registration.

Confirmation of issuer's signature on Norwegian documents

Issuer's signature may be confirmed by:

• two individuals who are of age and resident in Norway
• lawyer/ assistant lawyer
• licensed registered accountant or
• Notary Public

Buyer and his/her immediate family may not act as witnesses.

Confirmation of issuer's signature on foreign documents

Title documents and power of attorneys issued abroad must be notarized and thereafter legalized/ amended with an Apostille. A Notary Public has to confirm:

• the identity of the person signing
• that the person is of age
• that the person is authorized to sign for and on behalf of the company in question

It must be confirmed that the Notary Public is a public official holding the position specified in the document and, therefore, has the right to sign.
Notarial statements issued by Notaries in countries that are party to the Hague Convention are confirmed by the amendment of an Apostille by local authorities in the country.
Notarial statements issued by Notaries in countries that are not party to the Hague Convention are legalized by the Norwegian consular station in the relevant country.
Notarial statements from the Nordic Countries are exempt from legalization requirements.
You can find the list of countries that are parties to the Hague Convention on Apostille here.

The original Bill of Sale must be sent to the Ship Registers with all signatures in original

Registration may take place on the basis of a PDF copy. The original is then to be forwarded to the Ship Registers within three weeks from entry into the journal.

3. Notification of change

Please use the form, KR-0008. This has to be signed with binding signature by the new owner and sent to post@nis-nor.no.

4. Owner's nationality

The Norwegian Maritime Code S.1 describes requirements to owner's nationality. To ensure fulfilment, a declaration must be submitted. For private individuals it is sufficient to complete the form “Notification for registration”. All other entities must declare their nationality in a separate form, “Declaration of Nationality”, KR-0001 - KR-00007 (please choose the correct alternative). To be signed with binding signature and sent to post@nis-nor.no.

Additional documentation requirements for owners who satisfy the requirements set out in the Maritime Code S. 1, third paragraph (EEA), not resident in Norway:

For companies: Management agreement confirming that the vessel is part of the owner’s economic activities established in Norway and that the vessel is operated from Norway. BIMCO’s standard agreement may be used. Please send a certified “true copy” to post@nis-nor.no. Not applicable for recreational crafts.

For companies and private individuals: Appoint a Norwegian Representative/ Process Agent on form KR-0060. The representative/ process agent must declare fulfillment of the nationality requirements in the Norwegian Maritime Code S. 1 by completing a “Declaration of Nationality” as described above. Please send both forms to post@nis-nor.no.

In the event that the owner does not satisfy the requirements set out in the Maritime Code

Application for dispensation may be directed to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Maritime Department. 

The shipowning company is registered abroad

Company documentation requirements

5. Is the vessel also changing name?

For approval of name, kindly fill in and forward an application for certificate of name, KR-0019 to post@nis-nor.no.

6. Fishing vessel?

A confirmation stating the registration number in the Register of Norwegian Fishing Vessels must be produced. An electronic copy sent directly from the Directorate will suffice.

7. Are there to be registered new mortgages against the vessel?

Provided that the original mortgage has been received by the Department of Ship Registration it may be registered simultaneously with the new owner.

8. Registration fees as of  1 January 2024

NOK 2 469, - per consent from a mortgagee
NOK 2 469 - for Bill of Sale
NOK 2 884, - for each new mortgage to be registered against the vessel.
An invoice will be sent out after registration has taken place. To ensure correct invoicing we kindly ask the recipient to fill in the form payment information, KR-0070 and send the signed form to post@nis-nor.no.

In addition, there will be charged applicable fee rates and hourly rates related to the initial-and annual fees based on the vessel’s length/ NET as well as other, relevant fees (for example dispensation applications and certain certificates) ref. the NMA's Tariff of Fees / Fees Regulations.

9. IMO requirements 

ISM-liable company

The ISM Code regulates safe management of ships. Which ships this applies to is regulated in the NMA’s regulations of 5 September 2014 No. 1191 on a safety management system for Norwegian ships and mobile offshore units S.1.

We kindly as you to use the standard form, KR-0014. The form is to be signed by both parties and forwarded sent directly to post@nis-nor.no. After registration has taken place a color scan of the endorsed form will be sent to the ISM liable company per e-mail to be kept on board.

Continuous Synopsis Record- CSR

All passenger and cargo ships of 500 GRT and more engaged in international trade must have a CSR file on board.

A standard form has been drawn up the International Maritime Organization- IMO. This form consists of 16 items. Whenever a change occurs to one of the items the flag state is to be notified on FORM 2, KR-IMO-02.
Kindly note that each and every CSR document is to be accompanied by a FORM 3, KR-IMO-03: Index of amendments to that specific document.
See IMO's revised list of certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships

It is not a requirement for either FORM 2 or FORM 3 to be forwarded in original.

10. Certificate of Nationality/Registry

The Ship Registers will issue a Provisional Certificate of Nationality/Registry upon registration and send a PDF copy directly on board/to where the owner instructs. The provisional certificate will not be forwarded in original.

A permanent Certificate of Nationality/Registry will be issued once the registration has been approved by the Registrar. The permanent certificate will be forwarded in original to be kept on board.

Language

All documents, notarial statements etc. must be issued in one of the Scandinavian languages, English or translated by a licensed translator.

Original title and mortgage documents

We kindly ask that these are not sent for deposit at the register more than maximum 3 week prior to scheduled registration. Sender is kindly asked to include a statement to this effect.
If registration does not take place within this time, the original documents will be returned to sender without registration.

All documents related to the registration process must be sent directly to the Department of Ship Registration

The Norwegian Maritime Authority, Department of Ship Registration
P.O.Box 73 Nygårdstangen
N-5838 BERGEN

Please contact us and we will guide you through the registration process
Phone: + 47 52 74 50 00. post@nis-nor.no

12. Remember to apply for renewal of ship certificates 

Read more about the different certificates here.