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.

Identification of sole proprietorships

A sole proprietorship is not an independent legal entity and may, therefore, not be registered owner of a vessel in the Ship Register. When registering a Bill of Sale or other title document, we kindly ask that you provide full name and Personal ID Number (11 digits) of the person responsible for the business. In addition, the organization number to the sole proprietorship should be stated.
If the full Personal ID Number is not given, the document will be returned without 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

The notification form, KR-0008 is 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. 

5. Is the vessel also changing name and/or home port?

Enter the changes in the notification form (see item no 3). Kindly note that simultaneous registration with new owner does not generate extra fees.

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 1 975, - for Bill of Sale (including simultaneous change of name and/or home port)
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 (and if applicable), 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. Certificate of Nationality

Will be issued upon request of the new owner and if one has previously been issued for the vessel. This service is free of charge.

10. Please note

Managing company according to the Ship Safety and Security Act

The act of 16 February 2007 No. 9 relating to ship safety and security Section 2 defines which vessels are covered. If the owner delegates the responsibility for operations, the owner shall inform the NMA, ref. Section 5.

We kindly ask that you use the standard form, KR-0061. 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.

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 maximum3 week prior to planned 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