The Department of Merchant Shipping
The Department of Merchant Shipping
was established and started functioning as a distinct entity in the Ministry of
Communications and Works, in 1977. The service existed, however since 1963 and
functioned under the Department of Ports. The headquarters were situated in
Famagusta, which was also the port of registration of Cyprus ships.
Following the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974 and the subsequent occupation
of Famagusta by the Turks, Limassol replaced Famagusta as the port of
registration of Cyprus ships. At the same time the port of Famagusta, as well as
other smaller ports in the occupied area of Cyprus, were declared closed to
international maritime traffic.
The establishment of the Department of Merchant Shipping inaugurated a new era
of development of Cyprus in this important sector. The registration of ships
became just a part of an all round effort to establish a sound infrastructure
which would facilitate not just the registration of ships but also
shipmanagement and other shipping related activities in Cyprus. The Cyprus
Registry has shown phenomenal growth in the last twenty years. In the early
eighties Cyprus ranked thirty-second on the list of leading maritime nations. It
now ranks tenth with a merchant fleet exceeding 19 million gross tons.
The Department of Merchant Shipping is responsible for the development of
maritime activities which include: registration of ships, administration and
enforcement of the Merchant Shipping Laws, control of shipping and enforcement
of international conventions ratified by the Government of Cyprus, investigation
of accidents involving Cyprus ships or seamen serving on those ships or foreign
ships sailing within the territorial waters of the Republic, resolving labour
disputes on board Cyprus ships and training and certification of seafarers.
Since its establishment, the Department of Merchant Shipping has been
strengthened with professional, administrative and clerical personnel enabling
it to establish offices in Piraeus, London, Rotterdam, New York, Hamburg and
Brussels, for more efficient operation and the exercise of effective control
regarding the implementation of the provisions of the shipping legislation.
The main efforts of the Department of Merchant Shipping are presently focused on
the harmonisation of the Cyprus legislation to that of the European Union and
its effective implementation in particular with respect to the improvement of
safety standards and conditions of living and working of seafarers on board
Cyprus ships in accordance with international conventions currently in force. At
the same time, action is taken for the continuous improvement of the existing
infrastructure, the incentives available to both residents and non-residents and
the enhancement of the international reputation of the Cyprus flag as a maritime
flag.
Particular attention is also given to the protection of the environment against
marine pollution through enactment of legislation and raising the society’s
awareness on environmental issues.
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Department of Merchant Shipping Kylinis Street, Mesa Geitonia CY 4007 Lemesos P.O.Box 56193, CY 3305 CYPRUS Tel: + 357 25 848100 Fax: + 357 25 848200 e-mail: maritimeadmin@dms.mcw.gov.cy |