CREWS:

Training, Certification and Manning of Cyprus Ships

Legislation

The Training, certification and manning of Cyprus flag vessels are mainly regulated by the following statutory instruments:

• Merchant Shipping (Masters and Seamen) Laws, 1963 to 2002 [Part II – Composition of Personnel of a Ship (Safe Manning) – Certificates of Maritime Competency];
• International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 and 1995 (Ratification) and for Matters Connected Therewith Laws, 1985 and 1998;
• Merchant Shipping (Safe manning, Hours of Work and Watchkeeping) Law of 2000 (Law 105(I)/2000 as amended;
• Merchant Shipping (Criminal and Disciplinary Liability of Seafarers, Suspension or Cancellation of Certificates) Law of 2000 (Law 106(I)/2000 as amended);
• Merchant Shipping Medical Examination of Seafarers and Issue of Certificates Law of 2000 (Law 107(I)/2000);
• Merchant Shipping (Registration of Seafarers and Seafarers Registry) Law of 2000 (Law 108(I)/2000);
• Merchant Shipping (Issue and Recognition of Certificates and Marine Training) Law 2000 (Law 109(I)/2000 as amended).

Under the Merchant Shipping (Masters and Seamen) Laws, the master of a Cypriot ship is required to enter into an employment agreement with the shipowner.  Furthermore, every seaman on board must enter into an agreement with the master.

Certificates of Competency for Officers and Ratings

Officers and ratings serving on board Cyprus flag vessels are not required to hold certificates of competency issued by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, however they must hold valid and recognized certificates of competency or training documentary evidence for the post they hold on board.  Officers serving on board Cyprus flag vessels are required to hold, in addition to their non-Cyprus certificate of competency, a Cyprus endorsement attesting the recognition of their certificate in accordance with the STCW 1978 Convention as amended.

A list of States whose certificate of training documentary evidence have been recognized by Cyprus is found in the next pages.

As mentioned in the section Registration of Ships, passenger ships not exceeding 35 years old which are engaged in a service which includes at least 2 calls per month to a Cyprus port, for a period of at least 6 months, should engage for sea going training for a period of up to 6 months, at least 2 cadets who are Cypriot citizens and/or citizens of the EU who are resident in Cyprus for the last 6 months, if available.

Seafarer’s Identification and Sea-Service Record Book

All registration seamen shall apply for a Seafarer’s Identification and Sea-Service Record Book (SISR), which is issued by the Department of Merchant Shipping.  The Seafarer’s Identification and Sea-Service Record booklet is valid for a period of ten years from the date of its issue, after which a new one is issued by the Department of Merchant Shipping.  The engagement and discharge of the seafarer, as well as the entries relating to the training of familiarization with the ship, are made by the Master:

Nationality of Crew

Crew members may be of any nationality provided they are holders of certificates of competency issued by one of the countries, whose certificates of competency Cyprus has recognized.  Officers have to apply for endorsement of their certificates of competency in accordance with the STCW 1978 Convention as amended.

In order to facilitate the manning of ships flying its flag, the Cypriot government has concluded a number of bilateral agreements in the filed of merchant shipping with labour supplying countries.

Fees and taxes

Seafarers Identification and Sea-Service Record Book                     CY£30
Endorsement Attesting the Recognition of Non Cyprus Certificate     CY£20
Cyprus Certificate of Competency                                                    CY£10

For the period ending 31 December 2020, no income tax is charged on the emoluments of the master, the officers and the crew members of a Cyprus ship.

Document of Safe Manning

Every Cypriot ship should be in possession of a valid document of safe manning specifying the number and composition of her complement.  Owners of Cyprus ships should apply to the Department of Merchant Shipping requesting this issue of a document of safe manning.

If the vessel is designed and constructed with unattended machinery spaces, or is provided with any other automated machinery or remote controls, on account of which the owner may seek reduced manning, then the owner should indicate these in his application and should request the vessel’s classification society to advise the Department on these, including the corresponding class position of the vessel, as far as this notation is concerned.

If the vessel is to be engaged exclusively in trading in a particular geographical area and the owner seeks reduced manning on account of this, then he should indicate it by stating the names of the ports from which the vessel will be plying or by providing the geographical co-ordinates (latitude and longitude) and other appropriate information defining the geographical area in which the vessel will be sailing or by submitting an appropriately marked chart.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY

Recognised by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus

Algeria Argentina Australia Bahamas Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Cape Verde Chile China Cote D’ivoire Croatia Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt Estonia Finland France

Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Honduras Hong Kong, China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy          Jamaica Japan Kiribati Latvia Liberia Lithuania Maldives Malta

Marshall Islands Mexico Morocco Myanmar Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Panama Peru Philippines Poland                             Portugal Republic of Korea Romania Russian Federation Samoa Singapore Slovakia Slovenia

South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sweden Thailand Tonga Tuvalu Ukraine United Kingdom United States Viet Nam Yugoslavia

Note:    The certificates of competency issued by the former states of the USSR and Yugoslavia are also recognised.  Cyprus Maritime Administration requires verification of the validity and authenticity of non Cyprus certificates prior to the issue of Cyprus recognition endorsement.  Not withstanding the above, seafarers holding non-national certificates of competency are subject to “expanded” verification procedure and assessment of their qualifications.