“The strength of the Norwegian flag lies in the totality—competence, accessibility, and an administration that understands shipping in practice, not just in theory,” he said.
Harald highlighted that the Norwegian flag continues to represent a competitive advantage: a strong maritime cluster, a competent and service-oriented administration, support from the foreign service in demanding situations, and high levels of expertise in new technology.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority was recognized for its service mindset, accident investigation capability, and continuous improvement of regulations, as well as its collective agreements under the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS), particularly the pension scheme.
“Predictable and robust pension arrangements under NIS remain an important factor in attracting and retaining skilled seafarers.”
At the same time, the seminar addressed why many shipowners choose to reflag. The reasons are primarily structural: strong secondhand markets, compliance requirements, and social security agreements.
“Reflagging decisions are rarely emotional. They are driven by framework conditions, compliance, and commercial realities. But the size of the Norwegian register directly impacts Norway’s influence in international forums such as the IMO, and our position as a leading maritime nation.”
Looking ahead, the message was pragmatic: shipping is a global and competitive market. To retain and attract tonnage, Norway must continuously assess and improve its framework conditions.
“If Norway wants to remain an attractive flag state, it must actively compete for ships in the same way as other leading maritime nations. Flag choice is shaped by global market realities. Continued dialogue between authorities, policymakers, and industry will be essential to ensure that the Norwegian flag remains a competitive and relevant option for Odfjell and the wider maritime sector.”