The Government intends to submit a bill to the Storting (Parliament) as soon as possible on the extension of Norway's territorial sea. Most coastal states have now established the limit of their territorial sea at 12 nautical miles or more from baselines determined in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In Europe, only Greece and Norway retain a territorial limit of four nautical miles.

Extension of the territorial sea will make it possible to exercise greater control over foreign shipping. It will also allow Norway to establish mandatory sea lanes further out from the coast than is the case today. The Government wishes to establish mandatory sea lanes for shipping that might constitute a threat to the environment.

Shipping off the coast of North Norway represents a special challenge because of the harsh climate and the growth in traffic to and from Russia.

The establishment of a vessel traffic service centre for North Norway is therefore currently being reviewed. The Government also wishes to consider ways of increasing tugboat capacity in the north of the country.

In response to the growth in oil transport from Russia, the Government wishes to conclude an agreement with Russia on notification procedures for such transport. Internationally, Norway is taking the lead in developing international rules on the duty to provide prior notification of high-risk maritime transport.

The Government also proposes steps to improve the oil spill emergency response system along the coast. Private and public resources will be coordinated. The White Paper also proposes that responsibility for the national emergency response system for acute pollution incidents, which currently lies with the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, should be transferred to the Norwegian National Coastal Administration. This will help to ensure better coordination of preventive and remedial measures.