Norwegian Maritime Authority
Government AdministrationRogaland, Norway201-500 Employees
The Norwegian Maritime Authority is a government agency subordinated to Norway's Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Environment. It has jurisdiction over ships registered in Norway as well as foreign vessels arriving at Norwegian ports, and it administers the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) and the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR), including the Shipbuilding register. Registration under these registers provides legal protection for shipowners and mortgagees, while environmental matters related to individual ships fall under the Ministry of Environment. It also assists the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway in applying petroleum legislation on the Norwegian shelf and is responsible for supervising pleasure vessels. Based in Haugesund, Rogaland, the agency employs a few hundred staff and is led by Director General Olav Akselsen. In October 2024, it launched a new website.