Ship Registers in Norway: History and Development

A Brief History of the Ship Registers NOR and NIS

Norway has always been a seafaring nation. The need to keep record of vessels and their owners has been crucial to the Norwegian society since the early middle Ages.

• The first law encompassing ship registration was passed as early as in 1687.
• Due to Norway's extended coastline it was a pressing need to have local representation all along the coast. Around 50 local registers existed until 1972.
  
  
• A new Maritime Code was passed in 1972.
  At the same time, the numbers of local registers were reduced to 27.
  This code has later been replaced by the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 which you will find on this page: Acts.
  
  
• The Norwegian International Ship Register- NIS was established per 1 July 1987.
  The new register was then administered by the town clerk in Bergen along with the local "Bergen ship register".
  
  
• 5 May 1992: The Norwegian Ship Registers were established as an independent agency and placed under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  
  
• 1 August 1992: The 27 local registers were centralized into one, nationwide register, The Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR) and localized together with the NIS in Bergen.
  
  
• 1996: The Ship Registers NIS/NOR were placed under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
  
  
• 1 January 2012: The Ship Registers NIS/NOR are merged with The Norwegian Maritime Directorate to form the new Norwegian Maritime Authority.

Mandatory or voluntary registration?

Mandatory registration

• Any Norwegian vessel of 15 meters or more is subject to mandatory registration
  ref the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 § 11 - provided that the vessel is not registered in the ship register of another country.
• Drilling platforms and other movable installations ref. the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 § 507.

Voluntary registration

• Any Norwegian vessel with a length of at least 7 meters
• Fishing vessels
• Other vessels that are primarily used in business activity (no lower size limit applies)
• Floating crane, floating dock and other floating installations ref.the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 § 33.
• Fixed installations ref.the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 § 39.

Who can own a vessel in the NOR?

• Owner must fulfill the nationality requirements set out in the the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 § 1: Norwegian or EEA nationals/entities.
  
  
• Accordingly, the shipowning company does not have to be established in Norway.
  A Norwegian Process Agent/ Representative must be appointed to accept writs on behalf of the owner. 
  In addition, technical or commercial management must be made from Norway. This requirement for a link to the Flag State can be derived from Article 91 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which states that 'There must be a genuine link between the flag State and the ship'.

Management

When the shipowner does not satisfy the nationality requirements set out in § 1 no.1 of the Norwegian Maritime Code of 24 June 1994 No. 39 the technical or commercial management must be carried out by a Norwegian shipping company with its head office in Norway or by one of its management offices abroad. 

The management agreement is to be entered into between the owner and the Norwegian registered head office. The Norwegian registered head office will be recorded in the register.

• Technical management: Those functions that are necessary in order to ensure the ship is operational. This covers manning, outfitting and maintenance.
  
  
• Commercial management:  Ensures occupation of the ship. This includes preparation for contract negotiations, marketing and entering into charters.
  
  

About the former, local registers and histrorical files

The former 27 ship registers

Where can you find the historical archives from Norway's former 27 ship registers?