New rules will provide more jobs for Norwegian seamen

The Ministry of Trade and Industry Monica Mæland.Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB scanpix

 

The government introduces a subsidy for employment of seamen and other ship personnel and allows NIS registered construction vessels to take on assignments in Norway. The goal is to get more of the ship owners to register their ships as Norwegian and to employ more Norwegian seamen and other ship personnel.

The subsidy will appliyfrom 1 March and is a follow up of the maritime strategy, which was presented last summer, the Industry and Fisheries Ministry said to the news agency NTB.
– The subsidy for employment of seafarers is the most important instrument for retaining maritime expertise in Norway. It also ensures that Norwegian seafarers and the shipping industry have the same framework as the EU, says economics minister Monica Mæland (H).
The government also announces a rule change which means  that construction vessels in the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) will be allowed to take jobs on the Norwegian shelf.
– Maritime industry employs over 100,000 people in Norway. Today’s changes to the rules will help ensure that we can continue to be a major maritime power,the Minister of Industry emphasizes.
The government is waiting for the EFTA Surveillance Authority to approve the new support scheme. Companies may acquire rights from the second installment in 2016, but will not receive any payments before the final approval is in place, the Ministry stated.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today