NO Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
Norway uses the ISO country prefix NO followed by a three-letter location identifier. For example, NOOSL identifies Oslo and NOBGN identifies Bergen in the indexed port sample.
Norway has 616 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, supporting energy, seafood, forest products, project cargo and regional maritime trade along an extensive North Atlantic and Arctic coastline.
Explore Norway port codes, principal cargo gateways, regional port clusters and practical shipping considerations for 2026.
Norway’s port system combines major urban cargo gateways with specialized terminals serving offshore energy, fisheries, metals, timber, Ro-Ro traffic and coastal distribution. Indexed coverage is broader than container-port coverage and includes commercial ports, specialist terminals and smaller maritime facilities.
How many seaports does Norway have?
Norway has 616 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight as of the Nov 2026 database snapshot. This first-party indexed count covers a wider set of facilities than a container-port league table.
Which ports are the principal cargo gateways in Norway?
Oslo (NOOSL), Bergen (NOBGN), Kristiansand (NOKRS), Stavanger (NOSTA), Trondheim (NOTHM) and Larvik (NOLVK) are among the principal cargo gateways represented in the indexed sample. Cargo prominence varies by container, ferry, bulk, offshore and project-cargo segment.
Which areas handle important maritime freight in Norway?
The Oslofjord cluster, the southern Skagerrak coast, Western Norway and the Trondelag and northern corridors are important maritime freight areas. Oslo (NOOSL), Moss (NOMSS), Bergen (NOBGN), Stavanger (NOSTA) and Trondheim (NOTHM) illustrate the main urban and regional gateways.
A single, consistently reported 2025 TEU league table covering all Norwegian ports is not published in the cited public sources. The table therefore identifies active indexed gateways while leaving World rank, throughput and year-on-year change uniformly unreported where no reliable comparable public figure is available.
Indexed principal gateways and comparable 2025 container metrics
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Oslo | NOOSL | — | — | Oslofjord |
| — | Bergen | NOBGN | — | — | Western Norway |
| — | Kristiansand | NOKRS | — | — | Southern Norway |
| — | Stavanger | NOSTA | — | — | Rogaland |
| — | Fredrikstad | NOFRE | — | — | Oslofjord |
| — | Larvik | NOLVK | — | — | Southern Norway |
| — | Trondheim | NOTHM | — | — | Trondelag |
| — | Alesund | NOAAL | — | — | More og Romsdal |
| — | Haugesund | NOHAU | — | — | Western Norway |
The Oslofjord cluster connects Norway’s largest metropolitan market with manufacturing, distribution and ferry-linked cargo flows. Moss, Fredrikstad and Drammen are important complementary locations in the wider eastern logistics network.
Representative Oslofjord ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo | NOOSL | Oslo / — | Container, Ro-Ro, ferry and general cargo |
| Moss | NOMSS | Moss / — | Short-sea, general and regional cargo |
| Fredrikstad | NOFRE | Fredrikstad / — | Industrial, forest and general cargo |
| Drammen | NODRM | Drammen / — | Automotive, project and general cargo |
Southern gateways provide access to European short-sea routes and industrial hinterlands. Kristiansand and Larvik are notable for ferry, Ro-Ro, general cargo and regional distribution roles.
Representative southern ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristiansand | NOKRS | Kristiansand / — | Ferry, Ro-Ro, containers and general cargo |
| Larvik | NOLVK | Larvik / — | Short-sea, forest products and general cargo |
| Brevik | NOBRE | Brevik / — | Industrial and bulk cargo |
| Arendal | NOARE | Arendal / — | Industrial and project cargo |
Western Norway is closely linked to offshore supply, seafood, energy, machinery and coastal distribution. Bergen, Stavanger, Haugesund and Alesund serve different combinations of industrial, fisheries and general-cargo demand.
Representative western ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen | NOBGN | Bergen / — | General cargo, seafood, energy and coastal services |
| Stavanger | NOSTA | Stavanger / — | Offshore, energy, Ro-Ro and general cargo |
| Haugesund | NOHAU | Haugesund / — | Offshore, industrial and general cargo |
| Alesund | NOAAL | Alesund / — | Seafood, fisheries and regional cargo |
Central and northern ports support fisheries, minerals, energy, project cargo and regional supply chains. Their service patterns are often more specialized and seasonal than those of the largest southern gateways.
Representative central and northern ports
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trondheim | NOTHM | Trondheim / — | General cargo, agricultural and regional freight |
| Rauma | NORAU | Rauma / — | Industrial and project cargo |
| Narvik | NONVK | Narvik / — | Bulk, minerals and northern logistics |
| Bodo | NOBOD | Bodo / — | Coastal, fisheries and regional cargo |
| Tromso | NOTOS | Tromso / — | Arctic supply, fisheries and general cargo |
Norway uses the ISO country prefix NO followed by a three-letter location identifier. For example, NOOSL identifies Oslo and NOBGN identifies Bergen in the indexed port sample.
A city or port area may have more than one UN/LOCODE entry where separate facilities, historical designations or operational locations are recorded. The code should be matched to the bill of lading, booking and terminal instructions.
Check the current UNECE UN/LOCODE list and compare the result with the Ecer Freight port directory. Carrier schedules and terminal instructions should be confirmed before shipment release.
Norway’s international shipping profile is shaped by European short-sea connectivity, North Atlantic trade, seafood exports, energy equipment, machinery, metals and project cargo. Transit times are indicative and subject to carrier routing, transshipment and seasonal conditions.
Frequent short-sea and feeder connections link Norwegian gateways with distribution hubs in Northern Europe.
Trade flows commonly include seafood, machinery, consumer goods, industrial inputs and ferry-linked Ro-Ro cargo.
Mediterranean services generally operate through Northern European hubs or direct short-sea and feeder combinations.
Long-haul cargo usually relies on transshipment hubs, with routing selected according to equipment, sailing frequency and final destination.
The page distinguishes Ecer Freight’s indexed coverage from official national statistics and from port-specific operational data. Public figures are shown only where a comparable and attributable 2025 measure is available.
Norway has 616 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. The figure is an indexed database count, not a claim that all facilities handle containerized cargo.
Oslo (NOOSL) is generally regarded as Norway’s leading metropolitan cargo gateway, while the most relevant port depends on the cargo type. Bergen (NOBGN), Stavanger (NOSTA) and other ports have strong specialist or regional roles.
Norway uses the NO country prefix in UN/LOCODEs. Examples in the Ecer Freight sample include NOOSL for Oslo, NOBGN for Bergen, NOKRS for Kristiansand and NOTHM for Trondheim.
The Oslofjord, southern Skagerrak coast, Western Norway, Trondelag and northern coastal corridors are important. Cargo specialization differs between containers, ferries, bulk, seafood, offshore and project cargo.
No single public 2025 TEU series consistently covers every Norwegian port and terminal. Port authorities, operators and national statistics may use different boundaries and cargo definitions, so port-specific figures should be confirmed directly.
The Ecer Freight indexed count is based on the Nov 2026 database snapshot. Official statistics may follow different release calendars; operational schedules, surcharges, cut-offs and transit times remain subject to confirmation.
Shippers can compare available FCL sea freight rates or LCL sea freight rates. A quote normally requires origin and destination, cargo description, volume or weight, equipment, Incoterms and the preferred shipping date.
Editorial note: This guide combines the Ecer Freight port directory with publicly available information from Statistics Norway, the Norwegian Coastal Administration and UNECE. Indexed port coverage is reviewed with database updates, while official statistics and carrier schedules are updated according to their respective publication and operating calendars.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Norway: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact