Provisional and Permanent Registration

Provisional Registration

Administrative Procedures
Cypriot merchant shipping legislation allows for the provisional registration of a vessel (if at the time of registration the vessel is situated at a port outside the Republic and provided it was not previously a Cyprus ship) and most owners usually opt to have their ship provisionally registered first. This will allow them time (up to 9 months, including a 3 month extension) during which they will be able to complete the administrative formalities for permanent registration.

The application for registration of a ship under the Cyprus flag must be made by a local lawyer to the Minister of Communications and Works through the Registrar of Cyprus Ships. In practice, the Registrar will also accept the submission of applications for registration of ships on behalf of companies under formation, so that the incorporation of the company and registration of the ship can progress simultaneously. However the company must be duly
incorporated prior to the registration of the vessel.

A ship may be provisionally registered under the Cyprus flag either in Limassol, by the Registrar of Cyprus Ships or at any diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Cyprus abroad (hereinafter referred to as "consular officer") who will act on instructions issued by the Registrar of Cyprus Ships.

At the time of her provisional registration under the Cyprus flag a ship must be at a port so that she can be surveyed and certified on behalf of the Cypriot government. The presence of the ship at the port or place where the provisional registration will be effected is not necessary.

Application for Provisional Registration
In order to enable the Registrar of Cyprus Ships to initiate the procedure for the provisional registration of a ship, the following information is required:

name of the vessel and her flag at the time of the application;
name of the person (legal or natural) applying for the registration of the vessel;
name of the vessel under which she will be registered;
particulars of the vessel (type, year of build, date keel of the vessel was laid, gross and net tonnage);
name of the classification society with which the ship is entered. If the owners of the vessel contemplate a change of the classification society on acquiring the vessel this should also be stated;
Declaration of Particulars for ISM Code (Form ISM01/Revision02);
intended trading area of the vessel;
place where the vessel will be at the time of her provisional registration, if known. This must be communicated to the Registrar of Cyprus Ships prior to the provisional registration;
the consular office where the owners wish to effect the provisional registration of the vessel;
name and address of the shareholders and directors of the company in whose ownership the vessel will be registered.

Change of Ship's Name
If a change of the ship’s name is contemplated, 3 days must elapse between the day on which the application is submitted to the Registrar of Cyprus Ships and the day on which the ship may actually be registered and her name changed.

Recognised Classification Societies
It should be noted that the vessel must be classed with one of the classification societies that the Cypriot Government recognises. These are listed in Appendix 5.

Recognised Radio Traffic Accounting Authorities
It should be noted that the vessel must be covered by one of the radio traffic accounting authorities which the Cypriot Government recognises. These are listed in Appendix 6.

All maritime radio communications accounts must be paid by an accounting authority. Payments made directly through land earth stations or international service providers are not allowed.

Point of Service Activation (P.S.A.)
For the purpose of activation/deactivation for maritime mobile earth stations, vessels should nominate their preferred PSA that the Cypriot Government recognizes.. These are listed in Appendix 7.

Supporting Documentation/Information
The following documents/information must be forwarded to the Registrar of Cyprus Ships together with the application for the registration of the vessel or must reach the Registrar on a later date soon thereafter but in any case prior to the dispatch of instructions for the provisional registration of the vessel under the Cyprus flag:

All documents should be duly executed where applicable.

Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Cypriot Company*
Certificates of Incorporation, Directors and Secretary, Shareholders and Registered Office of the Cypriot
company*
In the case of companies established in the EU or EEA or established outside the EU or EEA but controlled by citizens of the EU or EEA, a Notarial Certificate issued by a Notary Public or the competent authority of the relevant State can be submitted instead of the documents mentioned above.*
Resolutions of the Directors of the Company for the purchase of the vessel and its registration in the Cyprus Registry
Power of attorney authorising the person who will sign all the necessary documents on behalf and on account of the Company
Bill of Sale/ Builder’s Certificate
Certificate of Deletion of the vessel/ Certificate of Ownership and freedom of encumbrances from the previous registry
Confirmation of Radio Traffic Accounting Authority**
Confirmation of Vessel’s Classification Society (where applicable)
Continuous Synopsis Record (C.S.R.)** (Only forms submitted with initial application)
Declaration of ownership (M.S.3 or M.S.2)
Appointment of Authorised Representative ***
Registration of a Mobile Maritime Radio Station (M.S.34) and copy of Shore Based Maintenance Agreement
Registration of SAR Particulars (M.S.45)**
ISM forms (Circular 54/2004) where this is required**
In the case of Parallel Registration in a Foreign Register, a Certificate of Parallel Registration from the foreign registry.
(i) Declaration of Conformity (ii) EC Type Examination Certificate from a Notifying Body (iii) Owner’s Manual-in the case of pleasure craft under 24 metres.

* In the case of an individual, this is replaced with the Identity Card or Passport
** Does not apply to non-convention ships
*** In the case of a corporation established in the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) or outside the EU and the EEA but controlled by citizens of the EU or EEA.

If the vessel falls within the ambit of the Government Policy for the Registration of vessels under the Cyprus flag then the additional requirements and/or conditions imposed therein must be satisfied prior to her registration.

If the provisional registration will take place at a diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Cyprus abroad, some of the required documents can be deposited there, upon the Registrar’s written instructions.

Upon receipt of the required documents, the Registrar of Cyprus Ships, or the consular officer of the Republic as the case may be, will then proceed with the provisional registration of the vessel.

Completion of Provisional Registration
Provided that the relevant fees have been paid and all the necessary documentation has been deposited either with the Registrar of Cyprus Ships or with any diplomatic mission or consular officer of the Republic, the Registrar or the consular officer who has been instructed to carry out the ship’s provisional registration will proceed to:

issue a Provisional Certificate of the Cyprus Registry (form MS.5), which is valid for 6 months from the date of issue;
issue a provisional radio licence;
advise the vessel’s classification society that it may proceed with the survey and certification of the vessel on behalf of the Cypriot government.

The shipowner must ensure that the ship does not leave the port where she is lying unless and until she has been duly surveyed and certificated by her classification society on behalf of the Cypriot government.

Extension of Provisional Registration
A 3 month extension of the ship’s provisional registration may be obtained, provided the provisional certificate of Cyprus Registry has not expired and the appropriate extension fees have been paid. For this purpose an application has to be made by the local lawyer acting on behalf of the registered owner to the Minister of Communications and Works through the Registrar of Cyprus Ships, requesting the extension of the ship’s provisional registration. In the said application, the consular officer of the Republic to whom the Provisional Certificate of Cyprus Registry will be presented for extension should be stated. The Registrar of Cyprus Ships will consider the application and will proceed and instruct the consular officer indicated above to effect the necessary endorsement of the Provisional Certificate of the Cyprus Registry.