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Cyprus Boat & Small Vessel Registration

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Information for Cyprus Expats on the Cyprus registration procedures for Boats, Small Vessels, High Speed Small Vessels, Rrecreation Crafts and Jet Ski's


Small Vessels / High Speed Small Vessels and Recreational Crafts

in the Republic of Cyprus requiring registration with

the Department of Merchant Shipping

________________________________________________________________________

  1. General information

All recreational crafts should be registered either in the Register of Cyprus Ships (these vessels are permitted to sail in national and international waters) or in the Register of Small Vessels (these vessels are permitted to sail only in the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus).

2. The Emergency Powers Regulations and Small Vessels Registration

Under the Emergency Powers (Control of Small Vessels) Regulations of 1955 (the “Emergency Powers Regulations”), all fishing vessels and pleasure or other vessels (other than portable or collapsible craft for use of bathers) of or below fifteen (15) net registered tons operating or plying exclusively in any port or shipping place in Cyprus or plying between such ports or shipping places or otherwise within the territorial waters of Cyprus or on any inland waters or reservoir in Cyprus must be recorded at the office of the Director of the Department of Merchant Shipping (the “DMS”).

The owners of such vessels must notify the Director of the DMS and furnish him with the following particulars together with tonnage of the vessel as ascertained by him which will be entered in the record by the said Director:

  1. the name of the vessel (if any);
  2. description and dimensions of the vessel;
  3. the name and address of the owner;
  4. how and when the vessel has been acquired.

On completion of the recording of a vessel, the Director of the DMS will issue a note of record and he will allot to such a vessel a registration number. The said registration number will need to be displayed on each bow and stern and must be at least four inches high.

Failure to register the aforesaid vessel constitutes a criminal offence and will be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding EUR 2,562 or to both imprisonment and fine.

3. The High Speed Small Vessels Regulations and High Speed Small Vessels Registration

3.1 General information

A ‘high speed small vessel’ means a mechanically propelled vessel of a length not exceeding fifteen (15) meters which can attain a speed of at least fifteen (15) knots (the “High Speed Small Vessel”). ‘Jet ski’ means a high speed small vessel which is propelled by an outboard engine or an inboard water jet propulsion system and which is capable of carrying one or more persons carried either seated or standing on it.

No person can be entitled to be the operator of the High Speed Small Vessel unless he is in possession of a licence to operate the High Speed Small Vessel (the “Operator’s Licence”) or of a licence for a learner to operate High Speed Small Vessel (the “Learner’s Licence”) issued by the competent authority. It should be noted that operation of the High Speed Small Vessel without an operator’s licence is prohibited.

3.2 Circulation Licence of the High Speed Small Vessel

If following an inspection carried out, the competent authority is satisfied that the high speed small vessel fulfills the requirements of the High Speed Small Vessels Law, the competent authority will grant or renew the circulation licence of the vessel upon payment of the prescribed fees as well as a sign in the form of a sticker which includes the serial number and expiry date of the circulation licence. A copy of the circulation licence must be kept in the vessel and the sticker sign referred above must be attached on the windscreen of the vessel (if there is one) or on other conspicuous spot.

The maximum permitted capacity of the high speed small vessel depends on the maximum length of the said vessel (e.g. maximum length 8 m- total number of passengers seven).

The high speed small vessels must carry the distinctive letters and the registration number of the Register of Small Vessels on the either side of the stern of the vessel.

3.3 Learner’s Licence of the High Speed Small Vessel

 Every person who has completed seventeen (17) years of age may acquire a learner’s license and may operate a high speed small vessel on the condition that he will always be accompanied by a person who has an operator’s licence. An application forms for High Speed Small Vessel Learner’s License from persons over the age of seventeen (17) years should be submitted together with the following:

  1. Two passport size photographs;
  2. Photocopy of Identity Card or passport; and
  3. Application fee of €17,09.

The learner’s licence is valid for a period of six months.  
 
 

4. Visitors staying in Cyprus

Temporary visitors staying in Cyprus for a period of less than thirty days (30) and that are not holders of the above licenses, can operate a hired high speed small vessel provided they have signed a binding declaration with the owner of the vessel who is responsible to examine whether the temporary visitor possesses the necessary knowledge for operating a high speed small vessel according to the requirements of the High Speed Small Vessel Regulations.

The above is only intended to be a general guidance for small vessel registration in Cyprus.

Happy Boating!

© George Zambartas

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