Documentation requirements for registration of a fishing vessel in the NOR are outlined below. To ensure a smooth registration process, pre-clearance of documents is encouraged.
1. Application for certificate of name
The chosen vessel name must be approved for registration purposes, ref. the regulations of 27 June 2002 No. 754 on ship’s name, call sign, marking and home port etc. If required, a Norwegian call sign will be assigned upon receipt of this application. Please send your application to post@nis-nor.no. The original application is not to be forwarded afterwards.
2. Notification for registration
Notification for registration, KR-0010, must be completed and signed with binding signature by the owner. If the owner is a company: according to the certificate of company registration. Send to post@nis-nor.no. The original is not to be forwarded afterwards.
3. Tonnage Certificate
A Tonnage Certificate must be issued or approved by the NMA, section for fishing vessels, before registration can take place.
4. Confirmation of survey
A valid Trading Certificate must be on board before the vessel may sail. Such a certificate will be issued after a document control and survey of the vessel has been carried out. .Kindly send a request for survey as outlined here.
5. Ownership
An unbroken chain of ownership must be documented back to the last registered owner in the previous register or all the way back to the shipbuilder.
If the ship is changing flag: Last registered owner must correspond with seller on Bill of Sale.
If the vessel is a newbuilding not yet registered: Builder's Certificate has to be issued.
Confirmation of issuer's signature on Norwegian documents
All title documents are to be signed with binding signature. If the seller is a Norwegian registered company: according to the certificate of company registration. The signature (-s) must then be confirmed by:
- two individuals who are of age and resident in Norway
- lawyer/ assistant lawyer
- licensed registered accountant or
- Notary Public
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 needs 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.
All title documents, i.e. Builder's Certificate and Bill of Sale must be submitted in original.
Registration may take place on the basis of electronic copies. The originals are then to be forwarded to the Ship Registers within three weeks form entry into the journal.
6. Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance
If the vessel is a newbuilding and confirmation of delivery is not stated in Builder's Certificate: An electronic copy signed by both the builder and the owner must be sent to the register prior to registration. The original is not to be forwarded the NOR after registration has taken place.
7. If documentation of ownership is not possible the vessel may still be registered
Ownership may be acquired through the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 S.35:
Acquisition of Registered Title by Consolidated Proceedings against possible Holders of Rights.
- If the owner of a Norwegian ship lacks a registered title and it is impossible or unreasonably difficult for him or her to obtain registered title in any other manner, he or she can acquire registered title by a judgment confirming his or her title to the ship, obtained in consolidated proceedings against possible holders of rights and by registration of such judgment.
- If the Court finds that the conditions have been met, it shall order that an extract of the writ be published in Norsk lysningsblad (the official gazette), with an announcement calling on any person claiming to have a better right to the ship than the plaintiff to appear in Court within a period, which shall be set at not less than 3 months, and prove his right.
- If no defendant appears within the time limit, the Court shall give judgment without a hearing confirming that the plaintiff is the owner. Such judgment shall immediately become final and binding on each and every person and shall not be subject to the right of appeal.
8. 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.noFor 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
An application for dispensation may be directed to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Maritime Department.
9. Certificate from the previous ship register/country
Norway does not permit dual registration. A certificate from the previous assets register in the country in which the ship has been built and/or transferred from must always be produced.
If the vessel has not been registered before this fact must be stated by the relevant register.
a. The vessel has been registered in an assets register
The Deletion Certificate must contain the following information:
- time of deletion
- owner at the time of deletion
- that the vessel was deleted free from registered encumbrances
b. The vessel has not been registered in an assets register prior to registration in the NOR
A statement to this fact (often called "certificate of non-registry) must be produced by the relevant assets register.
c. The vessel has been owned, but not registered, in more than one country prior to registration in the NOR
The assets registers in all relevant countries must issue a statement confirming "non-registry".
Confirmation of the certificates issued by overseas ship registers
Certificates issued by countries that are party to the Hague Convention are confirmed by the amendment of an Apostille by local authorities in the country.
Certificates issued by countries that that are not party to the Hague Convention are legalized by the Norwegian consular station in the relevant country.
Certificates from the Nordic countries’ ship registries are exempt from legalization requirements.
You can find the list of countries that are parties to the Hague Convention on Apostille here.
Submission of the certificates
- Copies may be accepted at the time of registration if sent directly to the NOR from the previous register.
- The original is then to be forwarded without delay.
- Kindly note that final registration is conditional upon receipt of the original document.
10. Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries
A confirmation stating the registration number the Register of Norwegian Fishing Vessels must be produced. An electronic copy sent directly from the Directorate of Fisheries to post@nis-nor.no will suffice.
11. ISM-liable company (for fishing vessels of 500 gross tonnage and upwards)
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 § 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.
12. Registration fees as of 1 January 2024
NOK 4 099, -
NOK 2 884, - for each 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 to post@nis-nor.no. The original is not to be forwarded afterwards.
In addition, there will be charged initial- and annual fees according to the ship's NET as well as fees for dispensation applications and certain certificates ref. the Tariff of Fees / Fees Regulations.
Imported ships which have previously been registered in NOR or NIS are exempt from the initial fee. Annual fee will be issued the year after registration.
See the Tariff of Fees S. 6 regarding special certificates and permits not covered by initial fees and annual fees.
13. Certificate of nationality/provisional certificate of nationality
Is the ship situated abroad at the time of delivery? The Department of Ship Registration will instruct the nearest Norwegian consular station to issue a provisional certificate of nationality as soon as the ship has entered the journal of the NOR. Accordingly, an original will be on board the ship upon departure. Kindly provide us with necessary information to give these instructions on form, KR-0011. To be forwarded to post@nis-nor.no. The original is not to be forwarded afterwards.
14. Please note
Language
All documents, notarial statements etc. must be issued in one of the Scandinavian languages, English or translated by a licensed translator.
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
Visiting address: Nygårdsgaten 114, NO-5008 Bergen
Mailing address: P.O.Box 73 Nygårdstangen, NO-5838 Bergen
NORWAY
Please contact us and we will guide you through the registration process
Phone: + 47 52 74 50 00. post@nis-nor.no
15. Remember to apply for ship certificates
Applications to be sent to postmottak@sjofartsdir.no.
- Safe Manning (all fishing vessels of 24 meters and more).
- Other certificates and documents for vessels. The vessel’s type, tonnage and cargo determines which certificates that are relevant. Read more about the different certificates and the application process here.