Register a cargo vessel less than 15 meters in NOR

Pre-clearance of documents is recommended.

1. Notification for registration

Notification for registration, Notification for registration, NOR less than 15m, must be completed and signed with binding ignature by the owner. If the owner is a company: according to the certificate of company registration. 
If the PDF version is chosen, please send a signed copy to nis-nor@sdir.no.

The desired home port should be entered according to this list: Approved home ports in NOR and NIS.

2. Call sign and marking

If a Norwegian call sign has not been allocated prior to registration, the Department of Ship Registration will assign one in connection with the registration process.

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. The marking shall always be painted in a contrasting colour re. the retulations on ship’s name, call sign, marking and home port, etc.

The Ship Registers will send out guidance on marking requirements upon assignment of the call sign or upon receipt of the registration form and other necessary documentation.

3. Picture of marked call sign 

Send pictures in JPG or PDF format to nis-nor@sdir.no.

4. Vessel measurements

Length, breadth and draught or depth must be documentet prior to registration, by submission of: Builder’s Certificate from the manufacturer, general arrangement drawings, approved CE documentation, or other declaration from the manufacturer or similar documentation considered unobjectionable by the Registrar.

If measurement data cannot be documented, the vessel cannot be registered. In special cases, the requisitioner may request measurements to be made by the Norwegian Maritime Authority.

5. Ownership

Title documents such as Builder's Certificate and Bills of sale must form an unbroken chain of ownership back to the last registered owner in the previous assets register or all the way back to the manufacturer.

If the vessel 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.

Signature requirements
All title documents and powers of attorney must be signed with binding signature. For Norwegian registered 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; a 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 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 regulations on registration of ships in the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR)§ 18 identifies who can confirm or witness the signatures.

All title documents must be submitted in original.
Registration may take place upon receipt of PDF copies. Final registration will then be conditional upon receipt of the original documents within three weeks thereafter.

6. 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 § 36 or § 35.

§ 36: Acquisition of Registered Title by Advertisement
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.
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.
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.

§ 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.

7. Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance (PDA)

If the vessel is a newbuilding and confirmation of delivery is not stated in the Builder's Certificate: an electronic copy of the signed PDA (signed both the builder and the owner) must be forwarded to the Department of Ship Registration prior to registration. The original is not to be forwarded.

8. Declaration of Nationality

The Norwegian Maritime Code (available here: Acts) § 1 sets out the 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” (see item 2 above). All other entities must declare their nationality in a separate form, “Declaration of Nationality”. Choose the correct form, KR-0001 - KR-0007, in our forms directory The declaration must be signed with binding signature by the owner. 
If the PDF version is chosen, please send a signed copy to nis-nor@sdir.no.

Additional documentation requirements for owners who satisfy the requirements set out in the Maritime Code §. 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 to nis-nor@sdir.no. 

For companies and private individuals: Appoint a Norwegian Representative/Process Agent, Appointment of Process Agent.
The representative/process agent must declare fulfillment of the nationality requirements in the Norwegian Maritime Code § 1 by completing a “Declaration of Nationality” as described above. Please send both forms to nis-nor@sdir.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.

Company documentation for foreign shipowning companies in NIS and NOR

9. Certificate from the previous ship register/ country

This only applies to vessels imported from abroad. To ensure that the vessel is not registered in two countries and to document the connection between the last registered owner in the previous assets register and the person registering the vessel, confirmation from the previous country's ship register (not small boat register) must be obtained.

If the vessel has been registered in a foreign ship register (real assets register), a deletion certificate must be obtained. In case of sale, there must be consistency between the last registered owner according to the deletion certificate and the seller in the deed/Bill of Sale. The certificate must contain the following information: time of deletion, the owner at the time of deletion, and a positive confirmation that the vessel was deleted free of encumbrances  

 If the vessel has not been registered in the country it comes from, this must be confirmed in writing by the relevant ship register (real asset register) by issuance of a "Certificate of Non-Registry": 

If the vessel has been unregistered and owned in several countries before registration in NOR, the ship register (real asset register) in all these countries must issue a confirmation that the vessel has not been registered.

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
PDF copies may be accepted at the time of registration. Final registration will then be conditional upon receipt of the original documents within three weeks thereafter.

10. Registration fees as of 1 January 2026

NOK 4 408, -
NOK 3 101, - if the vessel must be physically measured prior to registration.
NOK 3 101, - 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 this form: Payment information for the formal registrations in NIS/NOR/BYGG.. If the PDF version is chosen, please send a signed copy to nis-nor@sdir.no.

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 and Fees Regulations. 

See the Tariff of Fees S. 6 regarding special certificates and permits not covered by initial fees and annual fees

11. 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, Managing Company the Ship Safety Act. 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. Language and submission of the documents

All documents, notarial statements, etc. must be issued in one of the Scandinavian languages, English or translated by a licensed translator re. the regulations on registration of ships in the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR) § 17.

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