ABSTRACT
The chapter provides an overview of Norwegian ship safety and security legislation. The basic act is the Ships Safety Act 2007. The act provides competence for the ministries to issue detailed statutory instruments. Most of the substantive rules are based on statutory instruments.
Norway has ratified and implemented most of the relevant international conventions and there are a few additional rules. In addition, a number of EU regulations and directives are implemented pursuant to the agreement on the European Economic Area. Although neither international conventions nor EEA legislation have direct effect in Norway (‘dualism), the courts tend to construe the implementation legislation so that it is in compliance with international obligations.
Norwegian safety and security legislation tends to be goal-based and makes the shipowner rather than the master of the authorities the party primarily responsible for safety.
