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Provisional Registration of Ships under Cypriot Flag


A ship may be provisionally registered under the Cyprus flag at any diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Cyprus abroad (hereinafter referred to as "consular officer") who will act on instructions issued by the Registrar of Cyprus Ships.

At the time of her provisional registration under the Cyprus flag a ship must be at a port outside the Republic so that she can be surveyed and certified on behalf of the Cypriot government. The presence of the ship at the port or place where the provisional registration will be effected is not necessary.


Application for Provisional Registration

In order to enable the Registrar of Cyprus Ships to initiate the procedure for the provisional registration of a ship, the following information is required:

  • Name of the vessel and her flag at the time of the application.
  • Name of the Cyprus corporation applying for the registration of the vessel.
  • Name of the vessel under which she will be registered.
  • Particulars of the vessel (type, year of built, gross and net tonnage).
  • Name of the classification society with which the ship is entered. If the owners of the vessel contemplate a change of the classification society on acquiring the vessel this should also be stated.
  • Intended trading area of the vessel.
  • Place where the vessel will be at the time of her provisional registration, if known. This must be communicated to the Registrar of Cyprus Ships prior to the provisional registration.
  • Name of the consular officer where the owners wish to effect the provisional registration of the vessel.
  • Name and address of the shareholders and directors of the Cypriot company in whose ownership the vessel will be registered.


Instructions for Provisional Registration

The Registrar of Cyprus Ships will then proceed to instruct the consular officer to proceed with the provisional registration of the vessel, provided the following documents are deposited with him:

  • Resolution of directors of the Cypriot company resolving to acquire the vessel and register her in the Register of Cyprus Ships and the appointment of one or several attorneys who will appear before the consular office for matters concerning the registration of the ship.
  • Power of attorney empowering those concerned to attend matters concerning the registration such as the filing and signing of the bill of sale, the declaration of ownership (form MS.3), the memorandum of appointment of ship's husband (form MS.10) which must be executed pursuant to the above resolutions, under the common seal of the company. This must be signed by one or two directors (depending on the sealing provisions in the articles of association of the company) and must be either notarially attested or legalised by a Cyprus consular officer.
  • Declaration of ownership (form MS.3).
  • Memorandum of appointment of ship's husband (form MS.10).
  • Bill of sale whereby the ship is sold to the company, duly executed by her registered owners. The bill of sale must be certified by the consular authorities of the country of the previous registry.
  • Certificate of ownership and encumbrances from the ship's previous registry attesting that the ship is free of encumbrances and that she may be transferred to another registry.
  • Application for licence to install and work a wireless telegraphy and/or telephony station on board ship under the Cyprus flag (form MS.34).

Any of the documents set out above may also be deposited with the Registrar of Cyprus Ships at any time preceding the ship's provisional registration.


Completion of Provisional Registration

Provided that the appropriate fees have been paid and all the necessary documentation has been deposited either with the Registrar of Cyprus Ships or with any diplomatic mission or honorary consular officer of the Republic, the consular officer who has been instructed to carry out the ship's provisional registration will proceed to:

  • Issue a provisional certificate of the Cyprus Registry (form MS.5), which is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
  • Issue a provisional radio licence.
  • Advise the vessel's classification society that it may proceed with the survey and certification of the vessel on behalf of the Cypriot government.

The ship owner must ensure that the ship does not leave the port where she is lying unless and until she has been duly surveyed and certificated by her classification society on behalf of the Cypriot government.


Extension of Provisional Registration

A 3 month extension of the ship's provisional registration may be obtained provided the provisional certificate of Cyprus Registry has not expired and the appropriate extension fees have been paid. For this purpose an application has to be made by the local lawyer acting on behalf of the ship owning company to the Minister of Communications and Works through the Registrar of Cyprus Ships, requesting the extension of the ship's provisional registration.

In the said application, the Cyprus diplomatic mission or honorary consular officer to whom the provisional certificate of Cyprus Registry will be presented for extension should be stated. The Registrar of Cyprus Ships will consider the application and will proceed and instruct the consular officer indicated above to effect the necessary endorsement of the provisional certificate of the Cyprus Registry.



For more information please visit the website of the Department of Merchant Shipping



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© 2011 - 2023 Republic of Cyprus,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Stockholm