Founded in 1910, the company ran a regular transatlantic service between Norway and the United States, and later included a route to East Africa as well.

After the Great War, the company was one of Norway's largest shipping lines, owning a fleet that included 19 vessels, several of which were for commercial cargo transport.

In 1980 the last two passenger liners were handed over into a new joint venture company (Norwegian American Cruises) with Leif Höegh & Co, and finally sold to Cunard Line in 1984.

During the 1990s NAL main business were the Roll-on/roll-off operations and sea carriage of cars, through the NOSAC brand (Norwegian Specialised Autocarcarriers), with a fleet of nearly 20 vessels, then acquired by Wilh.

[1] List sourced from[2][3] The former headquarters of the shipping company (1919 – 1983) with ticket office and administration is still an iconic building in central Oslo.