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. Notification for registration

Notification for registration, KR-0012, 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. If the vessel has not yet been allocated a Norwegian call sign, this will be done in connection with the registration process.

2. Confirmation of marking of the call sign

The call sign shall be permanently marked on board on a fixed structural member by cutting, welding or centre punch marking (for instance in a deck coaming, hatch beam, on a bulkhead or similar). Markings should not be made on removable plates and always be painted in a contrasting color.

3. Picture showing the call sign

Confirmation as to where and how the call sign has been marked must be sent the Department of Ship Registration accompanied by a picture. The picture may be sent to post@nis-nor.no.

4. Vessel measurements

The vessel must be measured by an authorized enterprise (link to Norwegian site). The enterprise confirms the measurements to the Department of Ship Registration.

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.

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

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 must then be acquired through the the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 S.36 or S.35.

S. 36: Acquisition of Registered Title by Advertisement

  1. Whenever a Norwegian ship with a greatest length of less than 15 meters belongs to someone who has no registered title, the person exercising an owner’s rights of disposal and declaring in writing that he or she is the owner, can obtain registered title provided that he or she can show prima facie that he or she, together with those from whom he or she has acquired title, have been owners for at least ten years. As of 1 July 2016: or back to the boat was new / manufacturer.
  2. If the Registrar finds that these conditions have been met, he or she shall publish an invitation to possible owners to appear within a time limit which shall be set to at least one month.
  3. If no person appears, the Registrar shall enter the ship in the Register of Ships with the owner as registered titleholder or, if the ship is already registered, note that the title of the owner is in order.

S. 35: Acquisition of Registered Title by Consolidated Proceedings against possible Holders of Rights.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

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:

  1. time of deletion
  2. owner at the time of deletion
  3. 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. Registration fees as of 1 January 2024

NOK 2 884, - for registration of the vessel.
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. 

12. Please note

Managing company according to the Ship Safety and Security Act

The Ship Safety and Security Act regulates safe management of ships and 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.

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