The Republic of Cyprus has ratified the 2007 Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks by virtue of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Ratification) and for Matters Connected Therewith Law of 2015 (Law 12(III)/2015), published in the Official Gazette of the Republic No.4207, dated 29.05.2015, Supplement I(III).
The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks will enter into force for the Republic of Cyprus on 22 October 2015 in accordance with Article 18(2) of the Convention.
In accordance with the relevant provisions as from the 22nd of October 2015 any Cyprus flagged vessel of a gross tonnage of 300GT and above and any vessel irrespective of flag, of a gross tonnage of 300GT and above calling Cyprus ports or located within the territorial sea of the Republic of Cyprus, will have an obligation to carry a certificate attesting that insurance is in place in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of the Convention. Vessels failing to produce such a certificate will be liable to criminal and administrative sanctions.
With regards to Cyprus flagged vessels, the Wreck Removal Certificate provided in Article 12(2) of the Convention, should be obtained, in time, from the Department of Merchant Shipping.
Certificates obtained already from an Administrator of another State which is party to the Convention, prior to the Convention ratification by the Republic of Cyprus, will be acceptable until their relevant expiry and need not be re-issued or replaced. However, on their expiry, they should be renewed by the Department of Merchant Shipping and should in the meantime a need arise for their re-issuance eg. due to a change of name, transfer of ownership etc. they should be issued by the Department of Merchant Shipping.
With regards to non Cyprus flagged vessels calling Cyprus ports or located within the territorial sea of the Republic, the Wreck Removal Certificate should be issued by their flag State administration, should their flag state be a party to the Convention or by any State party to the Convention should their State not be a party to the Convention. The Department of Merchant Shipping will issue such Certificates upon receipt of the relevant application and accompanying documents, provided that the flag which the vessel is flying is not in the Black List of the Paris MOU for the year preceding the date of the application.
