8.1 Legislation The master of a Cypriot ship must enter into an employment agreement with the ship-owner. Also, every seaman on board must enter into an agreement with the master. The agreements are filed with the Director of the Department of Ports. The manning of Cyprus flag vessels is regulated in accordance with internationally accepted standards, in line with the requirements of the IMO. There is a Collective Agreement between the Trade Union of Cyprus and the Ship-owners Association. It regulates wages, matters relating to holidays, working hours etc. Where a Cyprus ship is owned by a Cyprus majority, the Collective Agreement is recognized by the International Transport Federation. In addition, Cyprus has entered into bilateral agreements with a number of countries regulating the employment of qualified seamen on Cypriot vessels. 8.2 Certificates of Competency and Ratings Officers and ratings serving on board Cyprus flag vessels must hold valid Certificates of Competency and/or training documentation for the post they hold on board. These can be issued either by the Cyprus government or a country whose certificates are recognized by the Cyprus government. In the latter case, those officers are required to hold in addition to their non-Cyprus certificate of competency, a Cyprus endorsement attesting the recognition of their certificate. Certificates of Competency issued by Cyprus are widely recognized worldwide. 8.3 Nationality of Crew Cyprus merchant shipping legislation stipulates that 15% of the crew of a Cypriot ship must be Cypriot. In the case of passenger ships over 15 years of age, at least 25% of the crew must be Cypriot. In addition at least 1 Cypriot student or graduate of a marine officer’s school, if available, must be engaged on the vessel for a period of up to 6 months for sea going training. These quotas however can be waived if the District Labour Office in Limassol confirms there are no unemployed seamen. In effect, due to the limited availability of Cypriot seamen, crew members may be of any nationality so long as they hold valid certificates of competency. In any case, this restriction was repealed upon accession of Cyprus to EU on 1 May 2004. To facilitate the manning of Cypriot ships, the government has concluded a number of bilateral agreements in the field of merchant shipping with labour supplying countries. They contain provisions for the employment on Cypriot ships of properly qualified seamen from these countries. The terms of employment of these seamen are those approved by the competent authorities and / or seamen’s unions of their country. 8.4 Safe Manning Certificate All Cyprus ships should be in possession of a valid document of safe manning specifying the number and composition of her complement. Owners of Cypriot ships should apply to the Department of Merchant Shipping requesting the issue of the document. The owner can apply for reduced manning if the vessel is designed and constructed with unattended machinery spaces, or is provided with any other automated machinery or remote controls. These should be indicated in the application and the owner should request the vessel’s classification society to advise the Department on these, including the corresponding class notation and confirm the 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 ports from which the vessel will be plying or provide the geographical co-ordinates (latitude and longitude) and other appropriate information defining the geographical area in which the vessel will be sailing or submit an appropriately marked chart. If special circumstances apply, the owner may apply to the Minister of Communications and Works for dispensation from all the provisions of the manning regulations.
8.1 Legislation
The master of a Cypriot ship must enter into an employment agreement with the ship-owner. Also, every seaman on board must enter into an agreement with the master. The agreements are filed with the Director of the Department of Ports.
The manning of Cyprus flag vessels is regulated in accordance with internationally accepted standards, in line with the requirements of the IMO.
There is a Collective Agreement between the Trade Union of Cyprus and the Ship-owners Association. It regulates wages, matters relating to holidays, working hours etc. Where a Cyprus ship is owned by a Cyprus majority, the Collective Agreement is recognized by the International Transport Federation. In addition, Cyprus has entered into bilateral agreements with a number of countries regulating the employment of qualified seamen on Cypriot vessels.
8.2 Certificates of Competency and Ratings
Officers and ratings serving on board Cyprus flag vessels must hold valid Certificates of Competency and/or training documentation for the post they hold on board. These can be issued either by the Cyprus government or a country whose certificates are recognized by the Cyprus government. In the latter case, those officers are required to hold in addition to their non-Cyprus certificate of competency, a Cyprus endorsement attesting the recognition of their certificate. Certificates of Competency issued by Cyprus are widely recognized worldwide.
8.3 Nationality of Crew
Cyprus merchant shipping legislation stipulates that 15% of the crew of a Cypriot ship must be Cypriot. In the case of passenger ships over 15 years of age, at least 25% of the crew must be Cypriot. In addition at least 1 Cypriot student or graduate of a marine officer’s school, if available, must be engaged on the vessel for a period of up to 6 months for sea going training. These quotas however can be waived if the District Labour Office in Limassol confirms there are no unemployed seamen. In effect, due to the limited availability of Cypriot seamen, crew members may be of any nationality so long as they hold valid certificates of competency. In any case, this restriction was repealed upon accession of Cyprus to EU on 1 May 2004.
To facilitate the manning of Cypriot ships, the government has concluded a number of bilateral agreements in the field of merchant shipping with labour supplying countries. They contain provisions for the employment on Cypriot ships of properly qualified seamen from these countries. The terms of employment of these seamen are those approved by the competent authorities and / or seamen’s unions of their country.
8.4 Safe Manning Certificate
All Cyprus ships should be in possession of a valid document of safe manning specifying the number and composition of her complement. Owners of Cypriot ships should apply to the Department of Merchant Shipping requesting the issue of the document.
The owner can apply for reduced manning if the vessel is designed and constructed with unattended machinery spaces, or is provided with any other automated machinery or remote controls. These should be indicated in the application and the owner should request the vessel’s classification society to advise the Department on these, including the corresponding class notation and confirm the 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 ports from which the vessel will be plying or provide the geographical co-ordinates (latitude and longitude) and other appropriate information defining the geographical area in which the vessel will be sailing or submit an appropriately marked chart.
If special circumstances apply, the owner may apply to the Minister of Communications and Works for dispensation from all the provisions of the manning regulations.