The NCA's notification and information services

The NCA operates notification and information systems for the registration and tracking of ship-related information, with a particular focus on information relating to hazardous or polluting cargoes. The services also includes information that contributes toward maritime safety.

SafeSeaNet Norway is a national reporting system for ships arriving at or leaving Norwegian ports. Currently shipping can provide statutory information via the notification system to a number of agencies in accordance with their regulations.

The system provides solutions that are customized based on the notification requirements of other public authorities, so that they can extract relevant shipping information directly from the notification system, without requiring individual reporting from shipping.

Navigational warnings

As the national coordinator for the NAVCO service, the Norwegian Coastal Administration is responsible for transmitting navigational warnings of incidents and conditions at sea that can affect the navigational conditions for mariners.

The warnings are made over the coastal radio and through Notices to Mariners (EFS), which are issued by the Norwegian Mapping Authority (sea). Warnings include notification of faults to NAVCO, active navigational warnings and general navigational warnings. Every year approx. 600 navigational warnings are issued within Norwegian waters.

Operates monitoring systems

The NCA operates the Norwegian part of the database for Long-Range Identification and Tracking on behalf of the Norwegian authorities. LRIT is a global satellite-based system for the identification and tracking of vessels, which was introduced in Norway in 2009. The system is only accessible by public authorities.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration registers, corrects and updates data on ships that sail under the Norwegian flag in the European LRIT database, which is operated by the EU Maritime Safety Agency EMSA in Lisbon.

Radio navigation (DGPS)

The Norwegian Coastal Administration's Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) service transmits correction signals to GPS navigation equipment on board ships. The DGPS service gives greater accuracy of the GPS position that is read and better signal quality for the system.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration's DGPS service is built up of 12 DGPS stations along the Norwegian coast. Each DGPS station consists of reference stations that monitor all visible satellites and calculates a correction value for each satellite. These corrections are broadcast over the NCA's maritime radio beacons.

Web-based map service

Kystinfo is the Norwegian Coastal Administration' online map service. Here you will find the NCA's own map data, in addition to map data and other geographic related information from a large number of other data owners. Most of them are obtained directly from the source database as so-called WMS services. As a user you are therefore ensured of access to the most recently updated data.

Different types of nautical charts, land maps, satellite and aerial photos, fairways, nature reserve areas, anchorage sites and emergency preparedness topics are examples of data that can be found in Kystinfo.

Wave and current warnings to mariners

The wave and current warning service provides mariners with information on wave and current conditions up to two days in advance. The warnings apply to particularly exposed stretches along the Norwegian coast.

The wave models provide forecasts for the wave height and direction up to 48 hours in advance. A summary of the wind strength and direction is also provided.

The wave and current warning service should make it easier and safer for passenger vessels to navigate in exposed coastal areas. This service has been developed in cooperation with the users and other Norwegian entities, and it is continuously updated based on the needs of the users.

Following vessel movements with AIS

AIS (Automatic Identification System) is an information system that helps the coastal state of Norway to maintain a good and effective response service along its coastline. The NCA operates the system on behalf of Norwegian authorities.

The NCA's AIS chain along the Norwegian coast was established in 2005 and currently consists of 44 land-based base stations on mainland Norway and Svalbard. The base stations receive automatic and dynamic messages from vessels showing the vessel's position, course, speed and identity.

The Navigational Warning Service NAVAREA

The NCA has assumed responsibility as coordinator of NAVAREA XIX, which is one of the areas of the IMO/IHO's global navigational warning service.

The area that the NCA is responsible for covers the waters between Greenland and the Russian border, stretching from the middle of the Norwegian coast and to the North Pole. The maritime traffic control centre in Vardø issues NAVAREA alerts twice a day on behalf of the NCA.

Ice warnings to shipping

During the winter months, the NCA provides shipping with updated information on ice conditions in Norwegian waters from the Swedish border to Kristiansand and icebreaking in primary and secondary fairways outside harbours. Ice reports are available and updated at kystverket.no from December 1st to March 31st.