The predecessor to the Nor-Shipping trade fair - an exhibition called Dekk og Dørk (Deck and Engine Room) — was held for the first time in the beginning of the 1960's, organized by Norwegian Industrial Fairs (now Norway Trade Fairs) in cooperation with the trade magazine, Skip. The first two exhibitions were entirely national, focusing more on the Norwegian sailor and his work place onboard rather than the international market. The international potential for a Norwegian shipping exhibition was recognized by a Norwegian ship owner and magazine publisher, Per Selvig. He contacted then-Secretary General of Norwegian Industrial Fairs, Edv.