The Norwegian Merchant Fleet

Updated: 1 February 2024

Next update: 31 January 2025

Vessels in the Norwegian Merchant Fleet
Vessels in the Norwegian Merchant Fleet
2023
1 591
The merchant fleet
The merchant fleet
2023Per Cent Change
2022 - 20232018 - 2023
All
Vessels1 591-0.19.9
Tonnage, measured (gross tonnes)18 800 245-1.111.3
NOR - Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register
Vessels9000.03.0
Tonnage, measured (gross tonnes)2 103 3143.115.2
NIS - Norwegian International Ship Register
Vessels691-0.120.4
Tonnage, measured (gross tonnes)16 696 931-1.610.9
Explanation of symbols

Selected tables and charts from this statistics

  • The merchant fleet by register, ownership and year
    The merchant fleet by register, ownership and year1 2
    Vessels registered in Norwegian ship registers totalNorwegian International Ship RegisterNorwegian Ordinary Ship Register
    VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)Norwegian ownedForeign ownedVesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)
    VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)
    20201 57119 259 13448512 074 9961705 167 9529162 016 186
    20211 60319 266 62353811 903 7761445 231 4439212 131 404
    20223 1 59219 009 02954911 812 1011435 156 6149002 040 314
    20231 59118 800 24554012 423 4131514 273 5189002 103 314
    1Norwegian registered vessels (NOR/NIS) of 100 gross tonnes and more for transport of passengers and goods
    2Norwegian Maritime Directorate and The Norwegian ship registers NIS/NOR .
    3New primary data source.
    Explanation of symbols
  • The merchant fleet by register, ownership and type of vessel
    The merchant fleet by register, ownership and type of vessel1 2
    2023
    Norwegian Ordinary Ship RegisterNorwegian International Ship Registered
    Norwegain ownedForeign ownedNorwegian ownedForeign owned
    VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)
    Oil tanker1615 52600392 551 5147432 588
    Chemical tankers56 36600961 753 20731647 869
    Gas tanker11 6870028935 866131 157 373
    Floating production/storage vessel00000000
    Tank barge00000000
    Foodstuff tanker53 099000000
    Other tanker24 611000000
    Bulk vessel2226 78100691 914 79817570 868
    Combination vessel23 89400970 795130 521
    Sand/rock dumping vessel00000000
    Fish carrier/Well boat115274 030617 741622 08742 935
    General cargo vessel136145 27111 0941091 018 4026130 697
    Container carrier25 6340024800 92417 409
    Dry cargo barge00000000
    Ro-Ro freight55 758008317 3836286 824
    Frozen/refrigerated vessel310 07515 9431348 99126 528
    Vehicle carrier0000342 223 4344260 408
    Combined general cargo carrier00000000
    Barge carrier00000000
    Other dry cargo vessels00000000
    Passenger ships173183 43600243 5304133 142
    Car Ferry238512 80013130000
    Ro/Ro-passenger carrier21164 32500211 78200
    Cruise ship0000008365 082
    Other passenger vessels27152 29300334 03200
    Offshore supply and anchor handling vessels85397 80524120 10262342 02040167 945
    Offshore service vessels518 17600621 66200
    Drill units00000000
    Offshore survey/seismographic research00000000
    Cable vessel00000000
    Pipe layer00000000
    Andre offshoreskip00000000
    Tug and pusher vessel00000000
    Salvage and rescue vessel00000000
    Fishing vessel00000000
    Trawler00000000
    Fish factory00000000
    Hunting vessel00000000
    Fishery protection00000000
    Research vessel00000000
    Dredger00000000
    Icebreaker00000000
    Lighthouse vessel00000000
    Crane ship00000000
    Pilot ship00000000
    Inspection vessel/patrol ship00000000
    Work ship426 5530030312 986773 329
    Other support vessel00000000
    Yacht00000000
    Lifeboat00000000
    Submarine00000000
    Floating units00000000
    Training vessel00000000
    Landing craft00000000
    Unknown00000000
    1Norwegian registered vessels (NOR/NIS) of 100 gross tonnes and more for transport of passengers and goods.
    2Source: The Norwegian Ship Registers NIS/NOR.
    Explanation of symbols
  • Merchant fleet by register, ownership and size of vessel
    Merchant fleet by register, ownership and size of vessel1 2
    2023
    Norwegian Ordinary Ship RegisterNorwegian International Ship Register
    Norwegian ownedForeign ownedNorwegian ownedForeign owned
    VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)
    Unknown gt.00000000
    0 - 24 gt.00000000
    25 - 99 gt.00000000
    100 - 199 gt.13419 75300113500
    200 - 299 gt.8019 595000000
    300 - 399 gt.4214 841131313831349
    400 - 499 gt.6630 7490014982957
    500 - 999 gt.12092 0350032 22300
    1 000 - 1 499 gt.6478 94633 68945 29700
    1 500 - 1 999 gt.5085 71800711 68423 368
    2 000 - 2 499 gt.4397 34412 1861637 85712 367
    2 500 - 2 999 gt.73205 8560043121 674411 800
    3 000 - 3 999 gt.63224 385310 82853186 6091759 261
    4 000 - 4 999 gt.43192 1731359 46327121 5661981 734
    5 000 - 5 999 gt.24131 262949 17230168 128210 632
    6 000 - 6 999 gt.19123 093319 54232205 012213 817
    7 000 - 7 999 gt.20150 3630019141 6651072 559
    8 000 - 8 999 gt.758 24900542 82918 829
    9 000 - 9 999 gt.0000658 537438 084
    10 000 - 10 999 gt.110 18100331 865110 599
    11 000 - 11 999 gt.779 1110019224 91800
    12 000 - 12 999 gt.00009110 370112 162
    13 000 - 13 999 gt.0000455 57200
    14 000 - 14 999 gt.0000114 740343 018
    15 000 - 19 999 gt.696 0670026458 0256111 589
    20 000 - 24 999 gt.00009195 311488 445
    25 000 - 29 999 gt.127 16400401 152 9909257 969
    30 000 - 34 999 gt.134 23100581 892 64413422 379
    35 000 - 39 999 gt.136 82200471 734 42015539 623
    40 000 - 44 999 gt.00003133 431144 866
    45 000 - 49 999 gt.00006283 06210477 846
    50 000 - 59 999 gt.000013722 6682117 062
    60 000 - 69 999 gt.0000191 268 3998531 586
    70 000 - 79 999 gt.2150 183008609 0222143 346
    80 000 - 89 999 gt.0000201 705 6302164 786
    90 000 - 99 999 gt.00005457 7672190 327
    100 000 - 149 999 gt.00001111 1097814 158
    150 000 - 199 999 gt.00001157 37300
    200 000 - 249 999 gt.00000000
    250 000 - 299 999 gt.00000000
    300 000 gt. and over00000000
    1Norwegian registered vessels (NOR/NIS) of 100 gross tonnes and more for transport of passengers and goods
    2Source: The Norwegian Ship Registers NIS/NOR
    Explanation of symbols
  • Merchant fleet by register, ownership and age
    Merchant fleet by register, ownership and age
    2023
    Norwegian Ordinary Ship RegisterNorwegian International Ship Register
    Norwegain ownedForeign ownedNorwegian ownedForeign owned
    VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)
    04- years140418 950728 539571 863 817371 316 631
    5-9 years112292 037836 314902 999 164411 119 089
    10-14 years117377 0981367 1881392 845 46734730 551
    15-19 years87406 682311 7451242 623 47418608 220
    20-24 years58108 09900621 188 47913457 424
    25-29 years3379 1790034707 816637 497
    30 years and over320276 07621 40734195 19624 106
    Unknown age00000000
    Explanation of symbols
  • Merchant fleet by register, ownership and home port
    Merchant fleet by register, ownership and home port
    2023
    Norwegian Ordinary Ship RegisterNorwegian International Ship Register
    Norwegain ownedForeign ownedNorwegian ownedForeign owned
    VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)
    Åkrehamn67 82800630 16300
    Ålesund89232 277628 33225137 629934 275
    Arendal216 72000185 7457134 616
    Askerøy00000000
    Bergen108148 767525 8742365 132 361381 288 431
    Bodø2315 0120011 35000
    Brønnøysund917 296000000
    Brevik1498000000
    Drøbak2761000000
    Drammen23 822000000
    Egersund000012425 03416561 709
    Farsund00000000
    Flekkefjord290200718 93000
    Florø79157 577131324 20800
    Fosnavåg23134 980312 6411266 428524 552
    Fredrikstad1189000000
    Grimstad14 9260012404 06712 997
    Halden2388000000
    Hammerfest5159 85514 81113 6502243 194
    Hamar1261000000
    Harstad1819 274000000
    Holmestrand1534000000
    Haugesund3061 95100491 753 63116620 156
    Horten1039 865000000
    Hvitsten00000000
    Hamnvik00000000
    Kopervik21 14800512 10800
    Kirkenes00000000
    Kragerø31 300000000
    Kristiansand S12110 41129 598745 64813 636
    Kristiansund N2615 64723 59536 9802824
    Langesund00000000
    Levanger00000000
    Lillesand00000000
    Longyearbyen251814 324428 08100
    Lyngør00000000
    Larvik00000000
    Melbu00000000
    Mandal419 37400318 61900
    Mo00000000
    Molde2542 118000000
    Måløy68 762000000
    Moss15 505000000
    Mosjøen00000000
    Myre26 221000000
    Namsos1210 414000000
    Narvik1221 117000000
    Odda1343000000
    Oslo24159 50200692 557 33516676 554
    Porsgrunn13 221000000
    Risør00000000
    Rørvik1129 835000000
    Sandnes518 6051049 354002080 669
    Sarpsborg1133000000
    Sandefjord345 443000000
    Sigerfjord00000000
    Skudeneshavn643 5560022196 749528 861
    Skien42 473000000
    Sortland22 6260012 99000
    Sandnessjøen2535 376000000
    Steinkjer00000000
    Stokmarknes826 648000000
    Stavanger8098 59615 165421 347 3784147 266
    Svolvær44 04000128 33100
    Tønsberg137700006411 906
    Trondheim66114 257001142 45400
    Tromsø56206 52511 186873 544313 872
    Tvedestrand00000000
    Vardø00000000
    Vadsø1347000000
    Explanation of symbols
  • Vessels in Norwegian ship registers not in the merchant fleet, by type of vessel
    Vessels in Norwegian ship registers not in the merchant fleet, by type of vessel
    2023
    Norwegian Ordinary Ship RegisterNorwegian International Ship Register
    VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)VesselsTonnage, measured (gross tonnes)
    Oil tanker171 02300
    Chemical tankers0000
    Gas tanker0000
    Floating production/storage vessel191 15300
    Tank barge186700
    Foodstuff tanker0000
    Other tanker27300
    Bulk vessel0000
    Combination vessel0000
    Sand/rock dumping vessel0000
    Fish carrier/Well boat1320700
    General cargo vessel844 27600
    Container carrier0000
    Dry cargo barge249327 56100
    Ro-Ro freight0000
    Frozen/refrigerated vessel0000
    Vehicle carrier0000
    Combined general cargo carrier15000
    Barge carrier132900
    Other dry cargo vessels38600
    Passenger ships56316 21100
    Car Ferry171 21200
    Ro/Ro-passenger carrier0000
    Cruise ship0000
    Other passenger vessels1967100
    Offshore supply and anchor handling vessels0000
    Offshore service vessels0000
    Drill units288 28600
    Offshore survey/seismographic research69 27122254 917
    Cable vessel2867445 119
    Pipe layer0000
    Andre offshoreskip0000
    Tug and pusher vessel16145 00732 083
    Salvage and rescue vessel4620 06700
    Fishing vessel4 806437 14700
    Trawler5477 59400
    Fish factory344800
    Hunting vessel61 90200
    Fishery protection0000
    Research vessel2440 20322 131
    Dredger61 45300
    Icebreaker248900
    Lighthouse vessel41 68500
    Crane ship89 213259 701
    Pilot ship461 88400
    Inspection vessel/patrol ship1194616 074
    Work ship2 99219 240122 263
    Other support vessel221 812222 170
    Yacht10 25324 80700
    Lifeboat1000
    Submarine0000
    Floating units63426 1715221 902
    Training vessel446 46600
    Landing craft0000
    Unknown271 66400
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The statistics show the size and structure of the Norwegian Merchant Fleet. The Norwegian Merchant Fleet consists of vessels for transport, with a gross tonnage of 100 tonnes or more, registered in NIS and NOR.

Ship register

Norway has two ship registers; The Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) and The Norwegian Ship Register (NOR). NIS was established in 1987 in order to improve the competitiveness of Norwegian ships. NIS is also open to foreign owned ships. NOR is primarily limited to Norwegian ships operating in Norwegian waters.

Gross tonnage

Gross tonnage is a function of the moulded volume of all enclosed spaces of the ship.

Classification of ship types has changed from 2007 and on. Through 2006 ships in the merchant fleet was split between wet bulk and dry bulk. Wet bulk includes gas tankers, chemical tankers, crude oil tankers, product tankers and other wet bulk tankers. Dry bulk includes combined tankers (OBO; Oil Bulk Ore, and OO; Oil Ore), dry cargo, passengers/ferries, general cargo, offshore supply/standby vessels. The new standard, Classification of type of vessel 2008 , in use from 2007, does not constitute a change in which vessels are included in the merchant fllet.

Name: The Norwegian Merchant Fleet
Topic: Transport and tourism

31 January 2025

Division for Energy, Environmental and Transport Statistics

By home port of vessel.

Year

Not relevant

Production data are kept in SAS and stored long term in ASCII format.

The purpose is to measure the Norwegian registered merchant fleet's size and structure. Until 1957 the statistics comprised of all vessels required to be registered according to Norwegian law - that is, all vessels of steam and motor engine of 25 gross tons and above, and sail ships of 50 gross tons and above. The statistics comprised therefore of many vessels not included in the merchant fleet, e.g. all fishing vessels, whale catching vessels and other specialized vessels (towing, rescue and salvage, ice brakers, cabel laying vessels, and so forth) of 25 (for sail ships 50) gross tons. In 1957 all the Nordic countries agreed to limit the merchant fleet to vessels carrying cargo and passengers of 100 gross tons and above.

The statistics are used by National Accounts, governmental departments, shipping enterprises, research institutions and universities. The statistics are also used by individuals with interest in Norwegian shipping.

No external users have access to the statistics and analyses before they are published and accessible simultaneously for all users on ssb.no at 8 am. Prior to this, a minimum of three months' advance notice is given in the Statistics Release Calendar. This is one of Statistics Norway’s key principles for ensuring that all users are treated equally.

The register was until 2001 used for collection of data in the survey Domestic Maritime Transportation

Arrivals of vessels at Norwegian and foreign ports is an additional source of information on ships registered in NIS.

The Statistics Act $2-2 and 3-2

Not relevant

The statistics was through the year 2009 based on The Maritime Directorate's control system for Norwegian registered vessels, and included all merchant vessels of 100 gross tons and above for passenger and goods transport. The statistics do not include fishing vessels and special vessels such as towing, rescue and salvage, ice breakers, research/weather/seismic vessels, cable laying vessels, drilling vessels and so forth. Statistics over fish catching vessels are published on Fishing and fish farming

All vessels in NIS and NOR must hold certificates issued by the directorate

Through 2008 data was supplied by The Maritime Directorate who through the control system manages certificates needed for the various types of traffic. All vessels in NIS and NOR must hold certificates issued by the directorate. The data supplied to Statistiscs Norway was based on a criteria of valid main certificate in parts of the year.

Starting with the year of 2009 data is collected directly from Skipsregistrene NIS/NOR. This change in sourcing does not impact the type of vessels included in the merchant fleet.

With the shift to Skipsregistrene NIS/NOR, as data supplier, the requirement of valid main certificate is abandoned.

The statistics is a total count of all Norwegian registered vessels given the limitations described earlier.

With Skipsregistrene NIS/NOR as new data supplier in 2009, all vessels in the registrer can be found in tables of Statbank. Main focus is nevertheless on the merchant fleet.

The situation described in the data is as of 31st of december.

The information on the vessels are transmitted electronically, and are adapted to the computer system in Statistics Norway.

Statistics Norway makes few changes on submitted data beyond checking classification codes. In the event that these are found to be wrong or missing the data supplier is consulted. Tabulated data is compared to previous years.

Data is receieved with the vessel types given by The Maritime Directorate which are coded into the standard used by Statistics Norway

No computations are made beyond those required for aggregate numbers.

Not relevant
Not relevant

The extraction of data from The Norwegian Maritime Directorate control system was altered from 2000 and onwards to include only vessels with valid main certificate.

Starting with 2009, data supplier is Skipsregistrene NIS/NOR. This means that the requirement of a valid main certificate is abandoned.

In May 2011 there were discovered errors in classifications for the posted figures for the years 2007-2009. For the merchant fleet in total the error was limited to two vessels in 2007 and 2008, and eight vessels in 2009. The error affected all categories. Revised figures were posted in Statbank while auxiliary tables in the main posting are left unchanged.

Beginning from 2017, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (SDIR) decided to categorize "construction ships" as part of the Norwegian merchant fleet. This originally led to a deviation between the figures published by SDIR and Statistics Norway for 2017 by 41 vessels. The deviation was corrected on February 1, 2019.

A possible error is deviation of procedure regarding the extraction of data from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate control system, but this is assumed to be small. Errors in data processing can occur if new codes or other non-defined information isn't discovered, and may be wrongly processed. The data has not been changed after receiving the data from the Norwegian Maritime Directorate.

The above source of error pertains to previous data supplier. This will also apply to Skipsregistren NIS/NOR.

The statistics are a full count of all Norwegian registered vessels with the restrictions mentioned in the chapter about production.

The quality of the statistics depends on the quality in the control system at the Norwegian Maritime Directorate. The control system is assumed to be of good quality.

Not relevant

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