The handbook comprises miscellaneous notices and is a useful aid to the Efs.

It is important that you as seafarers regularly read this handbook, as changes will occur. For easy access to the handbook, we recommend downloading a pdf-version, print the document if necessary.

Professional users are responsible for downloading the latest pdf version of the Efs from the Internet service at kartverket.no/efs.

Quality in Norwegian Charts

Electronic navigational charts (ENC) and paper charts contain data of different quality. Many areas consist of a mixture of modern and older data. In electronic charts Zones of Confidence are used to indicate the quality of the data presented. In paper charts, data quality is shown in a source diagram.

Quality of Norwegian Charts in the Waters Around Svalbard

For general information about the quality of the charts around Svalbard see Seacharts on Svalbard | Kartverket.no

Norwegian nautical publications, in addition to the Norwegian notices to mariners, Efs:

• Norwegian Sailing Directions: Den norske los
• Symbols and Abbriviations used on Norwegian Charts
• Tide Tables for the Norwegian coast including Svalbard
• Norwegian List of Lights

«All ships shall carry adequate and up-to-date charts, sailing directions, lists of lights, notices to mariners, tide tables and all other nautical publications necessary for the intended voyage.» (See SOLAS Consolidated Edition, Chapter V, Regulation 27).

The Norwegian notices to mariners, Etterretninger for sjøfarende (Efs), is published twice a month. The Efs provides information on changes or defects in aids to navigation, discovery of new dangers and on shortcomings in Norwegian charts or publications, navigational warnings, gunnery exercises or other information of interest to mariners. In  addition to temporary (T) and preliminary (P) notices in Norwegian waters.

The complete pdf editions of the Efs are accepted as an official Norwegian "notices to mariners" by the Norwegian Maritime Authority.

The Efs are available, free of charge, through the digital Efs service, kartverket.no/efs.

Users are responsible for downloading the latest pdf edition of the Efs on kartverket.no/efs.

The digital Etterretninger for sjøfarende (Efs) service has made it possible for the users to easily search for chart corrections and notices for each of the Norwegian charts. Searches can be saved for your next visit on the site. The Efs editions are available for download, free of charge.

It's possible to search for notices published in the Efs back to 2010. Please note that errors may occur in older notices, then it's the pdf edition of the Efs that's current.
Notices published before 2010 are only available through the pdf editions of the Efs.

Browse the historical archive, comprising Efs editions back to 1994.

All published information and chart corrections in the Norwegian Notices to Mariners, Etterretninger for sjøfarende (Efs) refer to the latest edition of the chart.

Contributors of nautical information to the Efs

The main contributors of nautical information to the Efs, can be divided into three groups:

• Government agencies such as: The Norwegian Coastal Administration, The Norwegian Public Roads Administration, The Directorate of Fisheries, Port Authorities, and local municipalities. Typical data are lights and aids to navigation, bridges, fish farms, quays, fillings and moles, etc.
• Private entrepreneurs constructing new or making changes to existing infrastructure which may affect the safe navigation at sea. This includes new/modified quays, marinas, moles, marine farms, fillings, overhead cables, submarine cables, etc.
• Private companies or persons making constructions at sea that are not relevant for safe navigation, but where the object can be damaged by anchoring or by fishing activity, such as submarine pipelines, cables or oil-related equipment on the seabed.

The charts affected by a notice are listed in the notice heading and is repeated in the bottom of the notice. A star (*) adjacent to the number of a notice indicates that the notice is based on Norwegian original information. Chart corrections are translated into English. Other notices of importance for the navigation are translated into English in a shortened version.

The contents in Etterretninger for sjøfarende (Efs) are sorted by

All corrections of significant navigational importance and other temporary (T) and preliminary (P) notices regarding sailing in Norwegian waters are announced in the Efs:

• Information about Norwegian charts and nautical publications
  • Read more about charts and publications in chapter 1)
• Permanent chart corrections for Norwegian Waters and ocean areas
  • New lights and amendments to existing ones
  • Fixed and floating navigation aids
  • Newly identified shallows
  • New or amended submarine cables and pipelines
  • Overhead structures
  • Wrecks or obstacles
• Temporary (T) and preliminary (P) notices for Norwegian Waters and ocean areas
  • Planned or amendments at light and navaids.
  • Light and navaids temporarily out of order.
  • Planned or amendments in ports and fairways
  • Warnings of planned discontinued light and navaids
  • Marine site surveys
• Miscellaneous notices
  • Gunnery exercises, warnings, seismic surveys and information regarding any orders and regulations regarding sailing in certain areas

In addition will information about quality in Norwegian charts, chart date etc. be repeated at regular intervals.

Regions in the Efs

The contents in search and chaptering in the Efs pdf edition are arranged in the following areas: Norwegian Waters, the North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, North Atlantic Ocean, Norwegian Sea westwards to Iceland, Arctic Ocean – the Barents Sea to Greenland, and Svalbard.

Within the area Norwegian Waters, the notices are sorted by their area, prior to their respective chart numbers.

Illustration of the Norwegian Coastal Areas (pdf 180 kB opens in a new window):

Coastal Areas (pdf)

Illustration of the Norwegian Ocean Areas  (pdf 344 kB opens in a new window):

Norwegian Ocean Areas (pdf)

Temporary (T) and Preliminary (P) Notices

A Temporary (T) Notice to Mariners is used to promulgate navigationally significant information that will remain valid only for a limited period. All T notices which have an indicated time will not be repeated unless any changes in time or other important changes.

A Preliminary (P) Notice to Mariners is issued to promulgate navigationally significant data early that is of importance to navigation and which in the future will result in a permanent chart correction.

These notices are indicated by (T) or (P) before the notice number, the charts will not be corrected, but an ECDIS revision (ER) are available for Electronic Charts. All active T and P notices are available on the Efs Internet service, kartverket.no/efs.

Positions

Positions are given in World Geodetic System (WGS84 DATUM) in degrees, minutes and decimals of minute.
Bearings are true, reckoned clockwise from 000° to 360°.
Light sectors: Bearings referring to a light sector are given in true degrees as observed from sea.
Distances are given in meters (m) or nautical miles (M).
Depths and heights are given in metres.

Abbreviations

The publication Symbols and Abbreviations on Norwegian Maritime Charts provides an overview of symbols and abbreviations used for Norwegian nautical charts. The text is in both Norwegian and English.

Nautical charts are the foundation for safe navigation. When navigating narrow channels, charts in the largest scale available should always be used as these give the best and most detailed information about the waters. Smaller scale charts are very simplified and are not edited to support navigation in coastal waters.

The publication date can be found in the title area. This date will provide the user with a guideline to how reliable the chart is. Please check the "Printing and Maintenance" section for further information.

Reliability

Due to the rapid development of both shipping and electronic navigational aids, the demand for reliability in nautical charts is now greater than ever. The chart reliability is very much dependent on the technology available to the hydrographical service.

Charts based on older surveys do not fully meet today's reliability standards. Therefore, Norwegian Hydrographic Service frequently receive discrepancy reports. These reports are promptly handled.

If required, a notice will be published in the Etterretninger til sjøfarende (Efs). Nautical charts are updated at the next print.

Updating and Printing of Charts

The year of publication is shown in the title block. This information will help the mariner in judging the reliability of the chart. As charts are subject to frequent changes, they are reprinted regularly.

The month and year of printing as well as the latest Notices to Mariners it is updated to,is shown in the lower left-hand corner of the chart. See example below.  "POD: 22. Dec 2022. Corrected to "Efs" No 23/22." means that map file is generated 22.12.2022 and the notices published in Efs no. 23/22 is corrected in the chart.

Hydrographic charts on paper are now sold only as POD-Charts (Print on demand) and must be ordered from authorized POD dealers. Charts are subject to frequent changes, and important amendments are continuously published in the Norwegian Notices to Mariners, Etterretninger for sjøfarende (Efs).

It is therefore the responsibility of the mariners to keep their charts updated in accordance with Efs after the date of printing. A Norwegian chart is updated when all corrections from the Efs concerning that chart are applied.

Overview with printing dates for Norwegian charts (pdf).

Print on Demand (POD) Charts

The Norwegian Hydrographic Service offers a Print on Demand (POD) service. Print on Demand service is offered for all Norwegian charts and can be purchased from approved suppliers of The Norwegian Mapping Authority's maps and charts.

Traditionally, paper charts were issued every few years. As time passes, there would be messages from the Norwegian Notices to Mariners, Etterretninger for sjøfarende (Efs), that were not reflected in the chart at selling time. This meant that even though the chart was bought today, many important corrections could have been issued since the chart was printed, and mariners had to manually update the chart with the Efs updates since the chart was published. With POD this is no longer necessary, as POD-charts are automatically and continuously updated to the latest Efs.

When a POD chart is purchased, the mariner only has to review the Efs’ published after the POD production, in order to have a fully updated chart. This will typically be limited to the latest Efs.

Chart updating starts as soon as an Efs is published. All updates shall be performed before the next Efs is issued (i.e. during a 14 day period). POD charts may also include updates that have not yet been published in an Efs.

Source diagram in charts

The source diagram printed in the chart title box shows when the survey was performed and the quality of the depth data. This provides an indication of the accuracy of the product. Areas surveyed before about 1960 did not receive full seafloor coverage and depth anomalies may be expected.

There may be undiscovered depths in older surveyed areas. Caution must therefore be taken when sailing in these areas. It is dangerous to sail outside marked areas/recommended track.

The following terms are used when referring to the issue of charts. The text is in accordance with the International Hydrographic Organization's (IHO) publication S-4 "Chart Specifications of the IHO", Section B-100, point 128.

New Chart

The New Chart is the first publication of a chart that either:

Embrace an area not previously chartred by that nation to be scale showing. Embrace an area different from existing chart of that nation Consist of a modernised version (in terms of symbology an general presentation) of an exixting chart Consist of the adoption by that nation of an international (INT) or national chart, first published by another nation

A new chart makes existing edition obsolete.

New Edition (NE)

A new edition is a new issue of an existing chart, containing amendments essential to navigation, which may include changes additional to those in the Norwegian Notice to Mariners (Efs).

A new edition will render the existing edition of the chart obsolete.

The publication Symbols and Abbreviations on Norwegian Maritime Charts provides an overview of symbols and abbreviations used for Norwegian nautical charts. The text is in both Norwegian and English.

Projections

All nautical charts in the scale 1:50 000 or larger are projected in Gauss conform cylinder projection (Gauss-Krüger). Nautical charts in scales less than 1:50 000 are usually constructed in a Mercator projection.

Chart Scale

Norwegian Hydrographic Service publishes navigational charts over Norwegian and bordering waters. The charts are mostly based on Norwegian hydrographic surveys.

Navigational charts are published in the following scales:

• Main chart series 1:50 000 – 1:100 000
• Harbour chart series 1:5 000 – 1:25 000
• Coastal chart series 1:350 000
• General chart series 1:700 000 – 1:10 000 000

Chart datum

From Utsira and northwards, including Svalbard, the chart datum (vertical) is identical to "lowest astronomical tide" (LAT). In Oslofjorden (north of Drøbaksundet) the chart datum is 30 cm below LAT, and between the Swedish border and Utsira the chart datum is 20 cm below LAT.

Meteorological conditions can cause depths to be less than specified in the chart. More information can be found in the publication Tide Tables for the Norwegian Coast and Svalbard (Tidevannstabeller for den norske kyst med Svalbard) and in the Norwegian pilot guide sailing directions, Den norske los, Volume 1, Alminnelige opplysninger.

On the Swedish side of nautical chart no.1 the soundings refer to a different datum, and they are approximately 60 cm shallower than the Norwegian ones. When navigating Swedish waters, Swedish charts should be used. Observed water levels and water level forecasts for the next days are available at Se havnivå. The service also provides tide tables and vertical reference levels.

Place names

In some charts the spelling of place names are out dated. Place names are currently under revision and creation.

When new releases of charts are published, all place names will be revised and updated.  It will therefore take a while before all the charts are updated.  There is currently a transition period with maps and publication using both the old and new spellings of certain place names.

In new editions of charts place names a will be updated in accordance with the laws on place names.

Leading Line

Leading lines indicate that waters are commonly used as fairways.

Ferry route

To inform mariners of crossing traffic, ferries are marked on the chart by the contours of a red ferry along a dashed line. This symbol is not to be regarded as a recommended track.

Overhead- and Submarine Cables

Overhead cables, telephone and power lines that cross salt water are inserted onto the nautical charts after if Norwegian Hydrographic Service is notified about them. Notices about new cables are frequently issued in Efs.

As both overhead and underwater cables may carry very high voltages, it is important that the navigator show extreme caution when navigating near them. The navigator should also be aware that new cables may not be displayed in the chart.

Underwater and overhead cables which are installed after the latest print of the chart have to be inserted manually.

Depth Contours

The depth contours have been drawn through points with the same depth, and have then been generalized. Thus, the contours may not always be accurate, but they do show the nature of the topography of the sea floor. By generalizing the depth contours, the line is always moved towards deeper waters to ensure safe navigation.

In areas where the topography is complicated, normal cartographic practice is to merge or generalize the depth areas. This is very common in the complex Norwegian waters.

Soundings

A sounding is the depth in a position relative to the chart's vertical datum. Its value is a positive number. Its position is the centre of the number.

Underwater rocks

An underwater rock is an area of limited size which stretches towards the surface, but is deeper than 0,5 m below the chart's vertical datum.

0 – 9,9 m are displayed with decimals.

10 – 20 m are rounded down to the nearest meter

> 20 m are displayed as soundings, in italics.

Rock awash

A rock awash is a rock which lies between chart's vertical datum and 0.5 meters below chart's vertical datum.

Rock

A rock is covered and uncovered by water. Its height is above the chart's vertical datum.

Danger Line

The Norwegian "danger line in general" is still in use in some areas of several of our charts.

In sheltered waters, it is a dotted line which indicates an approximate depth of 6 m.

In more open waters, it may be drawn in deeper waters, normally 6 to 20–30 m.

Intertidal Areas Above Chart Datum

The area of the seafloor between 0,5 m below the chart's vertical datum and the coastline. This area is limited by the Charts Low Waterline.

Coastline

The coastline (the border between sea and land) in Norwegian charts is defined to be Mean High Water.

Depth Over Wreck

Wrecks and large debris on the seafloor may over the course of time have shifted so much that the depth above such wrecks may be less than the charted depth.

Caution Areas  -  Dangerous Waves

Areas known for dangerous waves are marked with warnings in the nautical charts. These are collected from the dataset Areas with dangerous waves along the Norwegian coast - (geonorge.no). For detailed information about weather and waves, we recommend the Wave forecast service - BarentsWatch

The reference level for vertical clearances in Norwegian charts is the highest astronomical tide (HAT). Analysis has shown that the tidal levels in Norway often exceed this level. Therefore extra safety margins should be added by navigators in order to ensure safe navigation.

By increasing the safety margins by the following amounts in the designated areas, the vertical clearance should be safe:

• Inner Oslofjorden (North of Drøbaksundet): 80 cm
• From the Swedish border to Hordaland: 50 cm
• From Hordaland to the Russian border: 30 cm

Observed water levels and water level forecasts for the next days are available at Se havnivå. The service also provides tide tables and vertical reference levels.

Download illustration showing reference levels in Norwegian charts (Norwegian text), pdf 87 kB (opens in a new window):

Reference Levels (pdf)

More information on the Norwegian tides can be found at sehavniva.no.

Dumping grounds in nautical charts are sea areas where dredged material or other potentially more harmful material, e.g. explosives, chemical waste, was deliberately deposited. Mariners must consider the safety significance when operating in such areas. 

All dumping grounds in Norwegian nautical charts are labelled with disused, because of the regulations to limit pollution.

All dumping activities must be approved according to the Norwegian regulations to limit pollution: Forskrift om begrensning av forurensing av 01. juni 2004 nr. 933, Chapter 22 (forurensingsforskriften).

Both submarine and overhead cables can carry very high voltages, and mariners should be careful when navigating near them. They should also be aware that submarine and overhead cables may not be displayed in the charts. The vertical clearance may also vary due to extreme weather conditions.

Damage to Submarine Cables

Mariners should avoid anchoring and fishing in areas where a submarine cable is displayed on the chart. Anchors and fishing gear can cause severe damage, and disrupt telecommunications or the power supply.

Damage to Submarine Pipelines

Gas from a damaged oil or gas pipeline could cause an explosion, loss of a vessel's buoyancy, serious pollution or other hazards.

Pipelines on the seafloor are not always buried and their presence may effectively reduce the charted depth by as much as 2 meters. They may also span seabed undulations and cause snagging, putting a vessel in severe danger.

Trawling across pipelines at angles of 45° or more is recommended.

Fishing within 100 m, and sailing within 20 m of a marine farm is prohibited.

The chart symbol for a marine farm is used only where a license has been given by the Directorate of Fisheries. A marine farm may not be located in the given position as one company may have been given several licenses and alternate between these locations. Some marine farms may not be charted.

The moorings may stretch for several thousand meters from the marine farm. Not all of them are displayed in the charts.

Additional information can be found at the Directorate of Fisheries' website.

In connection with new surveying of the Norwegian coast, the Norwegian Hydrographic Service is prioritizing the publication of electronic navigational charts authorized for navigation. The international designation of such charts is ENC (Electronic Navigational Chart).

ENCs are produced in accordance with the International Hydrographic Organization's (IHO) S-57 standard, which is applied by all hydrographic offices world-wide for the production of corresponding electronic navigational charts for their waters.

ENCs for the entire Norwegian coast are available through authorized PRIMAR distributors. Information about coverage and overview of distributors is available from www.primar.org.

The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) approves provisions regarding the mandatory use of ECDIS, depending on the type of vessel and its size.

ECDIS is a certified navigation system meeting SOLAS requirements to navigational equipment pursuant to certain criteria. If an ENC is installed on this type of system and kept updated, it may be used for navigation in the same manner as an updated paper nautical chart.

The following back-up systems are approved for use on Norwegian vessels:

• Updated paper nautical charts, or
• A 2nd ECDIS connected to an emergency power source.

Other types of unofficial electronic charts, for example charts produced by private industry or raster charts, can only be used as a supplement for navigation.

Official electronic navigational charts (ENC) are vector charts produced in compliance with the specifications given by the International Hydrographic Organization, and are approved by a national hydrographic office.

The sources for Norwegian ENCs are either digitalized or scanned analog charts, or a database. The data is compiled into a seamless database in which each ENC is a cell. Each cell is identified by a unique number.

The content of charts and ENCs in the same area is not always identical. The ENC often contains more detailed data.

Depths along the quay

Quay depth is not a object class in the ENC. They are regular soundings showing its true position. Quay depths are taken either on the quay or two meters away from the quay depending on when the measurements were taken. Quay depths maybe presented slightly away from the quay in the electronic navigational chart (ENC) in order to improve readability in ECDIS.

Update Files (ER Updates)

An advantage with ENCs is the possibility for automatic updates. Update files (ER) are issued every fortnight. Within a 14 day period, all notices from the last Notice to Mariners (Efs) will be included. The ERs may also include updates that have not been issued in the Efs.

Temporary (T) and preliminary (P) notices are distributed for the ENCs in the same way as other updates. All ER updates are distributed through PRIMAR. For larger updates New Editions of an ENC will be issued. A New Edition may also be issued for technical reasons.

Terms Used

New dataset: ENC dataset that has not been issued for navigational purposes earlier.

Update: Amendments to existing dataset.

New edition: It also includes new data that have not been released earlier, in addition to all the previous updates.

Warning

Use of modern equipment makes it possible to extend the use of nautical chart information beyond what it is intended for. We strongly advise against this.

It is at all times the mariners own responsibility to familiarize themselves with and use the information in a chart in a responsible manner. Do take into consideration the constraints of the information the charts provides.

Report Feedback on Norwegian ENCs

Report errors, omissions or suggest improvements on the Norwegian Electronical Navigational Charts (ENC) in the feedback system Rett i kartet (currently only in Norwegian). Add a point, line or area on the chart and describe the problem. If you need feedback create a user. 

In addition, errors, omissions or suggestions for improvements on the Norwegian ENCs can also be sent to kundesenter@kartverket.no.

Usage Bands

Norwegian ENCs are divided into the following usage bands:

The data sources for an ENC will for many areas be based on old hydrographic data with inferior positional accuracy compared to what is possible with modern technology. These areas are identified by the use of Zones of Confidence (ZOC).

In digital charts the data quality is specified in Zones of Confidence (ZOC).

The ZOC diagram describes the quality of the bathymetry in the different areas. There are five quality categories in the ZOC diagram (A1 to D).

Until autumn 2013, mainly category B and C are used for Norwegian coastal waters based on the following classifications: ENCs with source data from older surveying (before 1960) are given ZOC value C, while ENCs with source data from surveying younger than ca 1960 are given ZOC value B.

From 1st of January 2014 the areas measured with multibeam sonar and which otherwise meets the requirements will be given the categories A1 or A2. The delimitation of the different zones will be added in the ENCs to always show which zone you are in.

Navigators must show great care when using (D)GPS and electronic charts in areas with older surveys as accuracy and completeness of the depth indicators are not in accordance with modern standards.

Additionally, the navigators should ensure that navigation at all times is conducted with good safety margins and in accordance with proper navigational practices.

For a full description: S57 IHO Transfer Standard for Digital Hydrographic Data (pdf opens in anew window).

Category Zone of Confidence (CATZOC) for ENC (pdf opens in a new window), source: UK Hydrographic Office:

ZOC-diagram (pdf)

Seafarers must pay special attention to laws and regulations that apply to traffic around petroleum installations in Norwegian sea areas.

Deficiencies may occur in Norwegian charts. Feel free to let us know at rettikartet.no. Please note that scale limitations often lead to generalization of the information.

Safety zones

According to regulations, safety zones extend 500 meters around the installations. These can be fixed production platforms, mobile drilling platforms, anchored cargo devices for tankers, as well as in some exceptions; installations on the seabed.

Safety zones are calculated from the extremity of the device. On some installations, the safety zone is calculated from the seabed contact to the riser. This means that the security zone is somewhat extended on some installations.

No vessel, including any gear of any kind, shall navigate within an established safety zone, except with the special permission of the platform commander, or in the event of an emergency.

Anchor / anchor lines

Anchors and anchor chains can be laid out from drilling / production platforms, flotillas and loading buoys at a distance of 2500 meters. Seafarers are advised to pay attention to possible anchor chains / wires and anchors outside the 500 meters safety zone.

For detailed information about anchors and anchor wires / lines outside safety zones, the platform or guard boat can be contacted on VHF channel 16.

Traffic monitoring – Equinor Operation Centre – Norseye Control

Equinor Operation Centre and Norseye Control monitors the waters around oil fields/platforms. Vessels having course against a installation safety zone is asked to report to Equinor Operation Centre or Norseye Control 60 minutes (TCPA) from the installation on VHF field channel and state the name and call sign. Due to ongoing maritime operations and the objective of safe navigation may lead to request of course change.

Equinor Operation VTS can be reached as follows:

• tel. (+47) 55 14 32 78
• e-mail: OPCSE@equinor.com.

Norseye Control can be reached as follows:

• tel. (+47) 40 00 01 76
• e-mail: control@norseye.com

Temporarily abandoned well heads

Oil wells may be temporarily abandoned by the rig operators. A "guide base" will be left on the sea floor to ease re-attachment at a later time. A 20" pipeline will extend 10–15 feet above the seafloor. Fishermen are advised to stay clear of temporarily abandoned well heads. Information on temporarily abandoned well heads is published in the Efs, the Norwegian Notices to Mariners.

Seismic Surveys

All over the Norwegian continental shelf Seismic surveys is carried out. In seismic surveys, vessels should have a fishery expert on board. The vessels leading prescribed signals can have up to several thousand meters of cables trailing behind him. All vessels should keep well clear by the passage of seismic vessels. Forthcoming seismic surveys will be published in the Efs.

Information about ongoing seismic surveys can be found at the Norwegian Offshore Directorate's website.

Observed water levels, water level forecasts, tide tables and vertical reference levels for the Norwegian coast are available at Kartverket’s service Se havnivå, kartverket.no/sehavniva.

The water level is composed of the astronomical tide, caused by the gravitational interactions between the moon, sun and earth, and the surge (positive or negative) caused by meteorological effects such as pressure and wind.

The Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) and the Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) refers to the lowest and highest tide level which can be predicted to occur under average meteorological conditions. LAT and HAT are determined by finding the lowest low water and the highest high water from 19 years of predicted tides.

Reference Level for Depths and Heights in the Tidal Tables
The vertical Chart Datum in Norwegian waters is based on the Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT). In areas where the meteorological contribution can dominate the water level for longer periods of time, an extra safety margin has been added so that the datum is lower than LAT.

For Norwegian waters, the Chart Datum is defined as follows:

• From Utsira and north to the Russian border (including Svalbard) Chart Datum equals LAT.
• From the Swedish border to Utsira, Chart Datum is 20 cm lower than LAT.
• In inner Oslofjorden north of Drøbaksund, Chart Datum is 30 cm lower than LAT.

This definition of Chart Datum was introduced into the Norwegian charts in January 2000. The datum of charts made prior to this date refer to Mean High Water Spring.

Kystverket har som myndighet ansvar for blant annet maritim infrastruktur, lostjenester og maritim trafikkovervåking. På kystverket.no finner du mer informasjon og kontaktinformasjon til Kystverket.

Navigasjonstjenester

Kystverket drifter og utvikler digitale og maritime tjenester som bidrar til tryggere og mer effektiv navigasjon. 

Sjøtrafikksentraltjenestene organiserer skipstrafikken og tilbyr assistanse- og informasjonstjenester.

I SafeSeaNet Norway kan skipsfarten sende pliktige ankomst- og avgangsopplysninger til myndigheter og havner.

På den digitale rutetjenesten - routeinfo.no kan navigatører laste ned referanseruter for navigasjon til havner, og få viktig ruteinformasjon og lokale forskrifter som gjelder for seilasen.

Det nasjonale AIS-nettverket AIS norge gjør det mulig for myndigheter å følge skipstrafikken i sanntid. Disse dataene blir delt med andre myndigheter og publikum.

Bølge-, vind- og strømvarsel for farleder gir prognoser for bølgehøyde, - periode og -retning inntil 60 timer frem i tid. Varslene oppdateres fire gange i døgnet.

DGPS-tjenesten (radionavigasjon) leverer korreksjonssignaler til GPS navigasjonsutstyr på skip. Det gir større nøyaktighet på GPS-posisjoner og styrker signalkvaliteten på systemet.

Kystverket er koordinator for NAVRAEA XIX med ansvar for å sende navigasjonsvarsler for Norskehavet, Grønlandshavet og vestre del av Barentshavet, norskekysten og kysten av Svalbard.

Kystinfo viser en samling kartlag med data og informasjon om marine og maritime interesser.

ArcticInfo gir sjøfarende informasjon om seilingsforhold i arktiske farvann, og beslutningsstøtte for tryggere ferdsel i Arktis.

BarentsWatch utvikler digitale tjenester for offentlige etater, næringer og enkeltpersoner.

Vindmålingstjenesten KystVær gir nøyaktige og oppdaterte vindmålinger for 120 utsatte strekninger langs kysten, Svalbard og Jan Mayen.

Istjenesten i Norge varsler om hvor mye is det er i farleden.

Havovervåkingssystemet LRIT er et globalt satelittbasert system for identifikasjon og sporing av spesielle type fartøyer som går i internasjonal fart. LRIT er internasjonalt lovfestet i Solas konvensjonen, og ble enstemmig vedtatt 19. mai 2006.

BåtFart-appen gjør det enklere å følge fartsgrensene til sjøs

Kystverkets fartøyer

Som en del av sin oppgave er det nødvendig for Kystverkets merkeskip å manøvrere langs med lysbøyer eller andre flytende eller faste merker for å utføre vedlikeholdsarbeider. Under disse operasjonene har merkeskipet begrenset manøvreringsevne og mannskapet utfører arbeider som kan medføre fare.

Det kan forekomme at andre fartøyer passerer så nær og med så stor hastighet at det kan føre til risiko for skade på personell og ødeleggelse av skip og utstyr. Sjøfarende opplyses derfor om faren som kan oppstå som følge av dette, og bes om å passere merkeskipene på så stor avstand som mulig og redusere farten tilsvarende.

I forbindelse med vedlikeholdsarbeid er det nødvendig for Kystverkets fartøyer å manøvrere langs med lysbøyer eller andre flytende eller bunnfaste merker. Under slike operasjoner har fartøyene begrenset manøvreringsevne og mannskapet utfører arbeid som kan medføre fare.

Det forekommer at andre fartøy passerer nært og i stor hastighet under slikt vedlikeholdsarbeid. Slike passeringer fører til risiko for personellskade og skade på Kystverkets fartøy og utstyr. Sjøfarende anmodes om å være bevisst denne risikoen og passere Kystverkets fartøy på så stor avstand som mulig og redusere farten som påkrevd.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration is the national coordinator for navigational warnings and provide warnings to ships containing urgent information relevant to safe navigation.

Obligation to report information relevant to safe navigation
Mariners are obliged to warn nearby vessel when aware of navigational hazards and failures of important aids to navigation. Furtermore, mariners must notify the Norwegian Coastal Administration as national coordinator for navigational warning of such hazards and failures.

Failures of aids to navigation or other navigational hazards shall be reported to the national coordinator by phone (00 47) 22 42 23 31, fax (00 47) 22 41 04 91 og by email: navco@kystverket.no

Broadcast of navigation warnings

In Norwegian sea- and coastal waters, three types of navigational warnings are promulgated, NAVAREA warnings, coastal warnings og local warnings.

NAVAREA warnings are concerned with the information, which oceangoing mariners require for their safe navigation. NAVAREA warnings are broadcast by the SafetyNET and SafetyCast (medio 2020) satellite services.

Coastal warnings are broadcast by the International NAVTEX service and concerns information, which is necessary for safe navigation within areas seaward of the fairway buoy or pilot   station. The Norwegian coast is covered by six NAVTEX stations, Svalbard, Vardø, Bodø, Ørlandet, Rogaland og Jeløya. Coastal warnings are also broadcast by the coastal radio service on VHF voice.

Local warnings broadcast supplement coastal warnings by giving detailed information within inshore waters, often within the limits of a VTS area or the jurisdiction of a harbour or port authority. Local warnings are broadcast using VHF voice.

NAVAREA warnings and coastal warnings are available on the website of the Norwegian Coastal Administration, kystverket.no. The publication of navigation warnings on this website is not intended as a substitute for, or alternative to the satellite service or NAVTEX, and does not relieve mariners from their responsibility to comply with MSI broadcasts in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) is responsible for providing aids to navigation, pilot services, VTS services and pollution prevention in Norway. Read more about the Norwegian Coastal Administration at kystverket.no.

Norwegian List of Lights

The latest printed issue of the Norwegian list of lights (Fyrlisten) was issued in 2018 and supersedes all previous editions.

A digital version of the Norwegian list of lights is updated every morning. You can download the continuously updated Norwegian list of lights as a pdf-file at kystverket.no.

The Norwegian list of lights (Fyrlisten) describes operational data for aids to navigation along the Norwegioan coast. In addition, it provides general guidance regarding typically used marks in Norway, and their intendes functions.

Transition to IALA Standard for sector lights

In the period 2019 to 2025, the Norwegian Coastal Administration will be reorganizing the sectors of all the sector lights. Around 1900 sector lights will be modified to be in compliance with the standard defined by IALA (International Association of Lighthouse Authorities).

This change will require extra attention from the mariners, as all sector lights will be affected. Mariners are requested to pay careful attention to the Norwegian notice to mariners, as both color and width of light sectors may change.

Buoys and Beacons

None of the Norwegian aids to navigation are manned, some have remote monitoring, but most have only periodic maintenance inspections. Beacons are built with or without lights. Most of the beacons without lights, are ironpoles in the water placed on/near shallow areas. Some beacons at land are unlit, these are beacon towers (stone) or lattice beacons. Some of the most exposed unlit marks (ironpoles), do not have any topmarks. This is due to likelihood of frequent weather damages. Beacons with lights are often lanterns on ironpole(s), or sector lights. Many of these lights have flood lights. Floating marks might have a light or be unlit. Floating marks might get off positon (due to wind and currect), and mariners are requested to apply extra care when using these marks when fixing own ship position.

Mariners are advised that aids to navigation must not be used for mooring. This can cause the aids to become damaged or out of position.

Racon

A modern Racon normally respond to both "X" and "S" frequency band radars. The range is dependent on the elevation of the radar antenna and of the transponder. Response intervals will vary depending on the characteristics of the racon. For example 18/30s means that the racon will respond for 18 seconds, and be nonresponsive for 12 seconds every 30 seconds.

A list of Racons on the Norwegian coast can be found in the Norwegian List of Lights.

Floodlights (IB)

Floodlight has a steady yellow or white light that illuminate an area. This area can be an rock, pier head, bridge piers or the structure the light is mounted on.

The purpose of the diffuser is to provide the mariner a certain effect of navigation at day, where one can better see and judge the distance to a restricted area/object and also see an illuminated daymark even though it is dark. Most recently, it is common to illuminate the stricture. This often amplified using reflectors and/or white color on the structure.

NCA Maintenance Vessels

To be able to perform their work, it is sometimes necessary for the Norwegian Coastal Administration's maintenance vessels to moor beside navigational aids. During these operations, these maintenance vessels will have restricted ability to maneuver, and the crew may be conducting dangerous operations.

In order to avoid injury and damage to personel or equipment, other vessels are requested to give these maintenance vessels as wide a berth as possible when passing them and to reduce speed as required.

The VTS contact information is listed at the Norwegian Coastal Administration's website, kystverket.no.

There are five Vessel Traffic Service Centers covering waters along the Norwegian coast, all operated by the Norwegian Coastal Administration. There are four VTS areas in the southern and western part of Norway (Fedje, Kvitsøy, Brevik, Horten) and one area in the far north (Vardø).

An english translation of the regulations relating to sailing in the Norwegin VTS areas can be found at the website - Regulations relating to maritime traffic in specific waters

Read the regulations relating to maritime traffic in specific waters, Sjøtrafikkforskriften, in Norwegian at lovdata.no.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration is responsible for the state pilotage service. Pilot bookings are made electronically in the SafeSeaNet Norway messaging service on www.shiprep.no.

For more information about the Norwegian pilot services, visit the Norwegian Coastal Administration's website kystverket.no.

An overview of Norwegian pilot boarding areas can be viewed at lovdata.no.

The Pilotage Act

The Compulsory Pilotage Regulations stipulate which vessels are subject to compulsory pilotage and the waters where the requirement applies. The compulsory pilotage requirement can be met by either employing a pilot or by use of a Pilot Exemption Certificate.

The general rule is that all vessels with a length of 70 metres or more are subject to compulsory pilotage when operating in waters within the baselines. Certain areas are nevertheless exempt from compulsory pilotage for vessels in transit to or from the pilot boarding area. For certain categories of vessels stricter rules apply, such as passenger vessels and vessels carrying dangerous and polluting cargo.

The Pilotage Act applies to Norwegian internal waters and the territorial sea, and it has also been made applicable to Svalbard.

Download the documents "Compulsory Pilotage Regulations – unofficial translation" and "Pilotage Act – unofficial translation" at kystverket.no.

Read the Pilotage Act, lospliktforskriften, in Norwegian at lovdata.no.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration provides the national Ice Service, which has two main tasks:

• Provide ship traffic with updated information on ice conditions in Norwegian waters from the Swedish border to Kristiansand.
• Icebreaking in main and secondary fairways..

Ice reports are available from 1 December to 31 March.

Ice observations that are important for shipping and navigation should be notified to the NCA's ice service.

SafeSeaNet Norway (SSN)  is Norway's Single Window portal for ship reporting. This is a messaging service for ships arriving and departing Norwegian ports. The service is operated by the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

Supplementary information at the Norwegian Coastal Administration's website kystverket.no.

Coastal radio broadcasts Maritime Safety Information (MSI) and forecasts on MF primary channels, available VHF working channels and Navtex. More information at kystradio.no.

Coastal Radio South:

• o/Tjøme: MF primary channel Ch-251
• o/Farsund: MF primary channel Ch-291
• o/Rodaland: MF primary channel Ch-260
• o/Bergen: MF primary channel Ch-272
• o/Florø: MF primary channel Ch-256
• o/Ørlandet: MF primary channel Ch-290

Coastal Radio North:

• o/Sandnessjøen: MF primary channel Ch-266
• o/Bodø: MF primary channel Ch-286
• o/Andenes: MF primary channel Ch-249
• o/Bjørnøya: MF primary channel Ch-270
• o/Jan Mayen: MF primary channel Ch-277
• o/Vardø: MF primary channel Ch-267
• o/Berlevåg: MF primary channel Ch-261
• o/Hammerfest: MF primary channel Ch-241
• o/Svalbard: MF primary channel Ch-273
• o/Svalbard HF: MF primary channel Ch-401

The nearest coastal radio station is reached by dialling telephone number 120.

From phones that require an international dialling code to call Norway the following list of direct dial numbers is useful:

• Coastal Radio North: +47 75 52 89 25
• Coastal Radio South: +47 51 69 00 44

All coastal radio stations receive and record Safe Sea Net messages (SSN) Arrival Notification and Reporting Point directly in the NCA SSN system.

Vital and very important navigational warnings and storm warnings (force 9 and up), are notified by DSC on MF and VHF followed by advertising on VHF Ch 16 and 2,182 kHz immediately after receipt from the Meteorological Institute or The Norwegian Coastal Administration. Warnings are then readout on the announced working channels.

Important navigational warnings and strong wind warnings (less than force 9) are broadcast only on VHF Ch 16 and 2,182 kHz before being readout on the advertised working channels. Strong wind and storm warnings are repeated twice in subsequent bulletins.

Navigation alerts are repeated in the two subsequent bulletins, and then once a day (10:33 UTC) for 7 days. Besides this, the numbers of valid navigational warnings which are still inforce are broadcast in regular bulletins until cancellation.

Channel 260 (Rogaland) is not used for the regular airing of MSI messages as the area is covered by the transmitters in Farsund and Bergen.

Navtex

In the Navtex system, vital and important messages are sent immediately upon receipt. Navigation warnings are repeated in the regular bulletins until cancellation. Strong wind and storm warnings are repeated once in the subsequent regular airtime.

Scheduled MSI Voice Broadcasts (UTC) at:

• 02:33
• 06:33
• 10:33
• 14:33
• 18:33
• 22:33 

Scheduled broadcast for Navtex (UTC)

Svalbard (A):

• Time: 0000¹ / 0400 / 0800² / 1200¹ / 1600³ / 2000
• Rang: 450 nm

Vardø (C):

• Time: 0020¹ / 0420 / 0820 / 1220¹ / 1620³ / 2020
• Range: 450 nm

Bodø (B):

• Time: 0010¹ / 0410 / 0810 / 1210¹ / 1610 / 2010
• Range: 450 nm

Ørlandet (N):

• Time: 0210¹ / 0610 / 1010 / 1410¹ / 1810 / 2210
• Range: 450 nm

Rogaland (L):

• Time: 1050¹ / 0550 / 0950 / 1350¹ / 1750 / 2150
• Range: 450 nm

Jeløy (M)*:

• Time: 0200¹ / 0600 / 1000 / 1400¹ / 1800 / 2200
• Range: 150 nm

¹⁾ Include weather forecast
²⁾ Include ice report
³⁾ Include ice reports on Tuesdays
* Warnings for the Oslofjord og Skagerak.

Range indicates the senders estimated range in nautical mile.

Broadcast of MSI at HF-NBDP for the Polar areas

HF NBDP (telex) dispatched by Vardø radio via transmitter on Svalbard.

Broadcast MSI HF NBDP NAVAREA-XIX (UTC):

• Frequency 8416,5 kHz at 06:30 and 18:30
• Frequency 4210,0 kHz at 06:45 and 18:45

Ice warnings over HF NBDP

Broadcast during winter time for METAREA XIX, on Tuesdays at 23.00 UTC on 8416,5 kHz and at 23:15 at 4210,0 kHz.

Scheduled broadcast for weather forecast HF NBDP METAREA-XIX (UTC):

• Frequency 8416,5 kHz at 11:00 and 23:00
• Frequency 4210,0 kHz at 11:15 and 23:15

Norway does not currently monitor HF channels.

Emergency channels

The Coast Radio Station monitors all the maritime emergency channels:

• VHF DSC (Ch 70)
• VHF tale (Ch 16)
• MF DSC distress (2187,5 kHz) follow up on voice channel 2182 kHz

In addition the Coast Radio Station monitor the following channels 24-7:

• MF DSC international (2189,5 kHz)
• All VHF working channels

Ships are encouraged to contact the Norwegian Coast Radio Station using digital selective Call (DSC). Using MMSI 002570000 in the call, the system automatically selects the nearest Norwegian Coast Radio Station.

Termination of listening watch on MF Voice channel

From March 1 2018, Coastal Radio bends listening to all MF voice channels. From this date it will only be listened to DSC. All voice channels will still be in operation, but only after callback using DSC.

Local forecast for coastal areas are broadcast on channel 16 and on VHF working channels every day at 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 and 21:00 local time. Weather forecast for waters are not advertised on call channels.

The alerts are sent out on some of the MF channels at the advertised times:

South off 65° N:

• Farsund (channel 291) UTC at 12:15 and 23:15
• Rogaland (channel 260) UTC at 12:15 and 23:15
• Bergen (channel 272) UTC at 12:15 and 23:15
• Florø (channel 256) UTC at 12:15 and 23:15
• Ørlandet (channel 290) UTC at 12:15 and 23:15

North off 65° N:

• Sandnessjøen (channel 266) UTC at 12:03 and 23:03
• Andenes (channel 249) UTC at 12:03 and 23:03
• Jan Mayen (channel 277) UTC at 12:03 and 23:03
• Hammerfest (channel 241) UTC at 12:03 and 23:03
• Berlevåg (channel 261) UTC at 12:03 and 23:03
• Vardø (channel 267) UTC at 12:03 and 23:03
• Svalbard (channel 273) UTC at 12:03 and 23:03
• Svalbard (channel 401) UTC at 12:03 and 23:03

Weather Forecast from MET Norway

MET Norway is the meteorological service for both The Military and the Civil Services in Norway, as well as the public.Norwegian weather and wave forecast are available on the internet at yr.no/hav_og_kyst.

Tjenesten «Bølgevarsel» fra BarentsWatch viser bølgehøyder for utvalgte strekninger langs hele norskekysten. I karttjenesten kan du klikke på en farled for å se varsel for området. Tjenesten gir prognoser for bølgehøyde, -periode og -retning inntil 60 timer frem i tid. Varslene oppdateres med jevne mellomrom, og er et nyttig hjelpeverktøy både for hurtigbåter, ferger, fritidsbåter og annen kysttrafikk.

Forskningen bak et bølgevarsel

Bevegelse i havoverflaten har mange årsaker, blant annet tidevannsbølger, tsunami ved jordskjelv, eller bølger skapt av skipstrafikken. Men bølgene som har betydning for bølgevarsler skapes av vind, enten langt borte eller lokalt. De kalles havbølger eller vindsjø. Les mer om forskningen bak et bølgevarsel på barentswatch.no.

Kystvaktens oppgaver er suverenitetshevdelse, fiskeri- og fangstoppsyn, ressurskontroll, tolloppsyn og miljøvern. Kystvakten utgjør også en viktig søk- og redningsberedskap (SAR) for sjøfarende innenfor norsk økonomisk sone.

Kystvakten har begrenset politi-, inspeksjons- og kontrollmyndighet og rett til å iverksette tvangstiltak på vegne av flere statlige aktører og sivile myndigheter.

Fra 1. januar 2020 fikk Kystvakten ansvaret for den statlige slepebåtberedskapen langs kysten, og fikk derfor tilført to nye fartøyer, KV «Jarl» og KV «Bison».

Kystvakten disponerer en variert flåte fartøy, fly og helikoptre. Ti av Kystvaktas totalt 15 fartøy opererer under Ytre Kystvakt og er havgående. Fire av disse er helikopterbærende.

De øvrige fem hører til under Indre Kystvakt.

I tillegg disponerer Kystvakten ett NH90 helikopter og sivile fly. Forsvarets overvåkningsfly, P3C Orion, bidrar også med jevne mellomrom med flygninger for Kystvakten.

Sjøfartsdirektoratet er forvaltnings- og tilsynsmyndighet for arbeidet med sikkerhet for liv, helse, miljø og materielle verdier på fartøy med norsk flagg og utenlandske fartøy i norske farvann. Direktoratet har ansvar for å sikre rettsvern for norskregistrerte skip og rettigheter i disse.

Hovedredningssentralen leder og koordinerer alle typer redningsaksjoner (land-, sjø- og luftredningstjeneste). Dette skjer enten direkte fra avdelingen i Nord-Norge eller fra avdelingen i Sør-Norge, eller gjennom oppdrag til underlagte lokale redningssentraler. Hovedredningssentralen har også et særskilt pådriveransvar for å vedlikeholde og videreutvikle samvirket innen redningstjenesten mellom hendelsene.

Hos Radio Medico jobber det seks leger, hvor en av dem til enhver tid, er tilgjengelig på telefon for mannskap om bord på alle skip på alle verdens hav, uavhengig av flagg, døgnet rundt.

Norges lange og varierte kystlinje er i seg selv enestående. Men uten dyre og fugleliv vil den kunne virke øde og gold. I allmennhetens interesse er det derfor opprettet en rekke verneområder langs kysten for å verne dyre-, fugle- og planteliv, samt om mulig å skape «uberørte» lunger i en stadig mer utnyttet og belastet natur. Sett deg inn i hvor det er lokale reservater og verneområder.

Miljødirektoratet jobber for et rent og rikt miljø. Hovedoppgavene er å redusere klimagassutslipp, forvalte norsk natur og hindre forurensing.