Norway: Marine Regulations

Overview

Regulations governing the environmental performance of Norwegian flagged vessels and foreign vessels and mobile platforms operating in Norwegian waters are laid out in Regulations on environmental safety for ships and mobile facilities [4209]. In 2019, this was amended to include special provisions for vessels operating in the UNESCO World Heritage fjords [4210]. A 2018 parliamentary resolution [4211] to introduce a zero emission requirement for cruise vessels and ferries in the UNESCO World Heritage fjords was outside the scope of the 2019 amendments. Since 2015, all tenders for new ferries require that low or zero emission technology be used where appropriate [4748]. Since 2007, a tax has been applied to NOx emissions from energy generation, including those arising from shipping [4749][4750]. Measures that reduce NOx emissions can reduce the burden of this tax.

Some of the relevant provisions of Regulations on environmental safety for ships and mobile facilities include:

• Adoption of MARPOL Annex VI
• Adoption of EU Monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from ships
• Sulfur content of fuels
• Special rules on emissions of SOx and NOx in the World Heritage fjords

Regarding the sulfur content of fuels, a maximum limit of 0.10% mass is applied to ships moored to quays or by anchor for more than 2h. The sulfur content of fuels for passenger ships in scheduled service in Norway’s exclusive economic area (EEA) is not to exceed 1.50%. Most of the Norwegian coast is outside of the North Sea ECA.

World Heritage Fjords

In the World Heritage fjords, special rules apply. Ships must use fuel with a maximum of 0.10% mass sulfur or a scrubber operating in closed loop mode, i.e., water discharge from scrubbers is prohibited. An anti-vapor plume device is also required when operating a scrubber.

Emissions of NOx are also limited from all ships in the World Heritage fjords, whether new or not, with a gross tonnage of 1000 or more as follows:

• IMO Tier I - from 2020.01
• IMO Tier II - from 2022.01
• IMO Tier III - from 2025.01

With regards to smoke and particulates, “Environmental Instructions” apply to ships with a gross tonnage of 10,000 or more sailing in the World Heritage fjords. This is primarily targeted to older ships that emit black smoke while operating on MGO and without scrubbers. At a minimum, these instructions must include:

• operational and technical measures for reducing particulate emissions and visible smoke
• reduced speed as a measure for reducing emissions

In 2018, parliament passed a resolution to phase in low and zero emission solutions for shipping by 2030 including the introduction of a zero emission requirement for cruise ships and ferries in the World Heritage fjords starting no later than 2026 [4211]. Regulations addressing this resolution are expected in the future.