Port State Control (PSC) is the systematic inspection of foreign ships in national ports to verify that crew, ship and equipment comply with the requirements of international conventions on safety, pollution prevention, operation, management and security, qualifications, living conditions and terms of employment.
Cyprus is signatory to the Paris Memorandum of Understanding and the Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding in Port State Control.
The inspections in Cyprus are carried out according to the Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Law of 2011 (Law 95 (I)/2011) as amended which is the harmonization Law with the Community Act titled “Directive 2009/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on port state control” as amended.
Pre- arrival Notification
The operator, agent or master of a ship which, in accordance with section 17, Law 95(I)/2011, is eligible for an expanded inspection and bound for a port or anchorage of the Republic, each one has the obligation to ensure that one of them notifies about the ship’s arrival and provides information to the Competent Authority and/or the Cyprus Ports Authority. The form of the notification shall be as per Fourth Schedule, as prescribed from time to time by a Notification (P.I 411/2015). The Notification shall be submitted at least three days before the ETA or before the departure from the previous port or anchorage, if the voyage is expected to take fewer than three days.
Legislation and Circulars related to Port State Control
Legislation
The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Laws of 2011 to 2020.
The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Notification of 2015 (P.I. 411/2015).
The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control- Duration of Night) Order of 2011 (P.I. 339/2011) (available only in Greek)
The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control- Geographical Areas of Ports and Anchorages) Order of 2017 (P.I. 155/2017) (available only in Greek)
Circulars
Circular 26/2012: Foreign Vessels calling at Cyprus Ports under the Port State Control Regime
Circular 31/2011: The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Notification of 2011
Circular 24/2011: The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Law of 2011 (Law 95(Ι)/2011)
Circular 41/2010: SafeSeaNet - European Platform for Maritime Data Exchange. New Inspection Regime on Port State Control-Notification of Ships.
Circular 8/2010: New Inspection Regime on Port State Control
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