Norwegian Shipbuilding Register
The Norwegian Shipbuilding Register is a specialized, domestic ship register specifically for vessels under construction and contracts for future ship construction within Norway.
Managed by the Norwegian Ship Registers, the registry is headquartered in Bergen. It serves as a legal sub-register within the same administrative framework as the Norwegian Ship Register and the Norwegian International Ship Register.
Legal function
The primary purpose of the Shipbuilding Register is to provide legal protection and facilitate financing during the construction phase of a vessel. By registering a new building contract or a ship under construction, the owner or the shipyard can:- Establish Legal Title: Formally document ownership of the vessel before it is completed.
- Register Mortgages: Allow banks and financial institutions to record security interests against the hull or the construction contract, which is essential for securing construction loans.
- Manage Transfer of Risk: Provide a transparent record of the vessel's status during the transition from shipyard to owner.
Registration criteria
For a vessel or contract to be eligible for entry into the register, it must satisfy specific criteria:- Size: All ships with a maximum length of 10 metres or more are eligible.
- Type: The register accepts standard commercial vessels, as well as offshore platforms and equivalent floating structures.
- Location: The ship must be under construction at a shipyard located within the Kingdom of Norway.
- Transition: Once the ship is completed and delivered, it is typically deleted from the Shipbuilding Register and simultaneously transferred to a permanent register such as the Norwegian Ship Register or the Norwegian International Ship Register.