Regulation I/2 of the STCW 78 Convention as amended, requires that each Administration which recognizes a foreign certificate of competency under regulation I/10 of the aforementioned Convention, shall endorse such a certificate to attest its recognition.
Article 8 of The Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning, Hours of Work and Watchkeeping) Law 105(I) of 2000 as amended, requires that
“Every Company is responsible and shall ensure that:
- Every seafarer assigned to any of its ships holds, an appropriate certificate in respect of any function he is to perform on that ship.
- Every seafarer on any of its ships has undergone training as specified in the Merchant Shipping (Issue and Recognition of Certificates and Marine Training) Law 27 (I) of 2008 as amended and holds the relevant certificates and training documentary evidence.”
Contravention of the above Law is punishable with a fine varying from one hundred seventy to eight thousand five hundred and forty-three euros depending on the seriousness of the contravention.
In view of the above, Companies are required to apply to the Cyprus Maritime Administration, for the issue of an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate for each Master, Chief Officer, Officer in charge of a navigational watch, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, Officer in charge of an engine room watch, electro-technical officer, master and officer holder of tanker’s training certificates of proficiency and GMDSS Radio Operator.
It should be noted that the above requirement applies only to Masters and Officers holding valid certificates of competency issued in accordance with the relevant provisions of the STCW78 Convention as amended by a competent Authority whose certificates of competency are recognized by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus at the time of the application.
No Master or Officer shall serve on board Cyprus flag vessels without a valid STCW78 as amended Certificate of competency and Cyprus Endorsement attesting the recognition of the non Cyprus Certificate (for holders of non Cyprus Certificates of competency) or a valid proof that an application for the issue of an endorsement has been made to the Cyprus Maritime Administration.
Companies are required to establish policies and maintain procedures to ensure compliance with the aforesaid requirements.
Application for the issue of an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus certificate
Each application for the issue of a Seafarer’s Identification and Sea Service Record Book must be submitted through the
eSAS online application system (requires Internet Explorer/Java), as per our
Circular 25/2016 (applicable only for owners and managers of Cyprus flagged vessels).
It should be noted that Cyprus Maritime Administration will only examine applications for the issue of an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate if the applicant is holding a valid Cyprus Seafarer’s Identification and Sea Service Record Book or if he has applied for the issue of such a book, and his application has been approved.
Validity, replacement and renewal of an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus certificate
Endorsements attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificates shall have the same expiration date as the certificate whose recognition they attest.
Notwithstanding the above, no endorsement shall be valid for a period of more than five (5) years from the date of issue.
Replacement of endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate
If an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate requires alteration or is damaged, an application for a replacement should be made immediately.
If the endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate is stolen or lost or it is destroyed, notification should be given immediately to the Headquarters of the Department and an application for a replacement endorsement should be made.
If an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate is lost in the mail during delivery, then the endorsement will be replaced at no additional charge.
Renewal of endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate
An application for the renewal of an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate should be made prior to the expiration date of the endorsement.
Rejection of an application for the issue of an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus certificate
Applications for the issue of endorsements attesting the recognition of non Cyprus Certificates are subject to the approval of this Administration. If an application is not approved the applicant will be promptly informed of the reasons and all documents submitted, shall be returned to the applicant at the return mailing address indicated on the application.
The applicant may within forty-five (45) days from the date of rejection of the application, request re-examination of the application. If the application is not approved for the second time, the rejection is final.
Suspension and withdrawal of endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus certificate
The endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate remains the property of the Republic of Cyprus and it may be suspended or withdrawn by the Merchant Shipping Disciplinary Committee on account of a disciplinary offence or any other cause as provided for in the Cyprus legislation.
Upon suspension or withdrawal of an endorsement attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate, issued by this Administration, the seafarer in question and the Company employing the seafarer (if any) and the competent Authority that issued the relevant certificate of competency will be informed accordingly.
This Administration will maintain a list of suspended or withdrawn endorsements attesting the recognition of a non Cyprus Certificate at the website of the Department for the information of those concerned.