Cyprus stands proudly as a global maritime hub, boasting one of the largest merchant fleets in the world and a highly reputable maritime administration. Its strategic geographical location, coupled with an advantageous legal and tax framework, makes it a premier destination for ship owners, managers, and maritime businesses worldwide. Our law firm offers unparalleled expertise in all facets of shipping and maritime law, providing comprehensive legal solutions to clients engaged in the dynamic global shipping industry.

We understand the unique complexities of maritime operations and the critical need for swift, accurate, and commercially astute legal advice. Our services cover the full spectrum of shipping matters, ensuring that your interests are protected from vessel acquisition to operational contracts and dispute resolution.

The Cyprus flag is widely recognized as a “white flag” jurisdiction, renowned for its quality, safety, and adherence to international maritime conventions. Registering a vessel under the Cyprus flag offers numerous benefits, including:

• EU Flag: Providing access to the European single market and preferential treatment in various ports.
• Reputation and Quality: A modern, reputable registry committed to safety and environmental protection.
• Favorable Tax Regime: A competitive tonnage tax system for ship owners, managers, and charterers.
• Flexible Ownership Structures: Allowing for various types of ownership through Cypriot or foreign entities.
• Effective Mortgage System: A robust and secure system for registering and enforcing ship mortgages.

 

Our services include:

• Initial Registration: Guiding clients through the entire process of provisional and permanent registration of vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, and pleasure yachts.
• Parallel Registration: Facilitating parallel-in and parallel-out registration to meet specific operational needs.
• Bareboat Charter Registration: Assisting with the registration of vessels chartered on a bareboat basis.
• Deletion from Registry: Managing the seamless deletion of vessels from the Cyprus Register.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring ongoing compliance with all national and international maritime regulations.

Well-drafted shipping contracts are essential for mitigating risks and ensuring smooth operations. We provide expert advice and drafting services for a wide range of maritime agreements, including:

• Charterparties: Drafting and negotiating various types of charterparties (time, voyage, bareboat) to define rights, obligations, and liabilities between owners and charterers.
• Management Agreements: Preparing ship management agreements (technical, commercial, crewing) between owners and ship management companies.
• Sale and Purchase Agreements: Drafting and negotiating MOAs (Memorandum of Agreement) for the sale and acquisition of vessels, ensuring clear terms of delivery, payment, and risk transfer.
• Crewing Agreements: Advising on and drafting agreements related to the employment and management of maritime crew.
• Agency Agreements: Preparing agreements for port agents and other maritime service providers.

The construction of a new vessel is a significant investment requiring meticulous legal planning. We provide comprehensive legal support throughout the shipbuilding process, including:

• Contract Drafting and Negotiation: Preparing and negotiating detailed shipbuilding contracts, encompassing specifications, delivery schedules, payment terms, warranties, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Financing Arrangements: Advising on the legal aspects of shipbuilding financing, including loan agreements and refund guarantees.
• Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating legal risks associated with delays, defects, and non-performance during construction.

Ship mortgages are a critical tool for financing vessel acquisition and operations. The Cyprus legal system provides a robust and reliable framework for registering and enforcing maritime mortgages. Our services include:

• Mortgage Drafting and Registration: Preparing and registering ship mortgages with the Department of Merchant Shipping, ensuring proper legal effect and priority.
• Security Perfection: Advising on additional security instruments and ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to perfect the lender’s security interest.
• Enforcement of Mortgages: Representing mortgagees in the enforcement of their rights, including vessel arrest and judicial sale procedures.
• Discharge of Mortgages: Assisting with the legal procedures for discharging mortgages upon repayment of secured debts.

Before acquiring a vessel, thorough legal due diligence is paramount to identify and assess potential risks. Our due diligence services for ship acquisition cover:

• Title Verification: Confirming clear title to the vessel and absence of encumbrances.
• Lien Searches: Investigating potential maritime liens, mortgages, and other claims against the vessel.
• Regulatory Compliance: Reviewing the vessel’s compliance history with international conventions and flag state requirements (e.g., safety certificates, pollution prevention).
• Contractual Review: Scrutinizing existing charterparties, management agreements, and other relevant contracts.
• Litigation History: Researching any past or pending litigation involving the vessel or the seller.

We guide clients through every stage of the ship acquisition process, from initial negotiations and due diligence to the execution of the Memorandum of Agreement and the completion of registration. Our aim is to ensure a smooth, efficient, and legally secure transaction, allowing you to expand your fleet with confidence.

Cyprus’s status as a top maritime destination is no accident. With a favorable legal framework, a highly skilled professional services sector, and our firm’s deep expertise in shipping and maritime law, we are your ideal partner for navigating the opportunities and challenges of the global shipping industry.

Cyprus stands proudly as a global maritime hub, boasting one of the largest merchant fleets in the world and a highly reputable maritime administration. Its strategic geographical location, coupled with an advantageous legal and tax framework, makes it a premier destination for ship owners, managers, and maritime businesses worldwide. Our law firm offers unparalleled expertise in all facets of shipping and maritime law, providing comprehensive legal solutions to clients engaged in the dynamic global shipping industry.

We understand the unique complexities of maritime operations and the critical need for swift, accurate, and commercially astute legal advice. Our services cover the full spectrum of shipping matters, ensuring that your interests are protected from vessel acquisition to operational contracts and dispute resolution.

The Cyprus flag is widely recognized as a “white flag” jurisdiction, renowned for its quality, safety, and adherence to international maritime conventions. Registering a vessel under the Cyprus flag offers numerous benefits, including:

• EU Flag: Providing access to the European single market and preferential treatment in various ports.
• Reputation and Quality: A modern, reputable registry committed to safety and environmental protection.
• Favorable Tonnage Tax System: A competitive tonnage tax system for ship owners, managers, and charterers, which is EU-approved and provides significant tax advantages over conventional corporate taxation. This system covers profits from shipping operations, dividends, profit on sale of vessels, and interest earned on funds used for shipping activities.
• Flexible Ownership Structures: Allowing for various types of ownership through Cypriot or foreign entities.
• Effective Mortgage System: A robust and secure system for registering and enforcing ship mortgages, offering full protection for financiers and mortgagees.
• No Nationality Restrictions for Seafarers: Offering flexibility in crewing.

 

Our services include:

• Initial Registration: Guiding clients through the entire process of provisional and permanent registration of vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, and pleasure yachts.
• Parallel Registration: Facilitating parallel-in and parallel-out registration to meet specific operational needs.
• Bareboat Charter Registration: Assisting with the registration of vessels chartered on a bareboat basis.
• Deletion from Registry: Managing the seamless deletion of vessels from the Cyprus Register.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring ongoing compliance with all national and international maritime regulations.

Well-drafted shipping contracts are essential for mitigating risks and ensuring smooth operations. We provide expert advice and drafting services for a wide range of maritime agreements, including:

• Charterparties: Drafting and negotiating various types of charterparties (time, voyage, bareboat) to define rights, obligations, and liabilities between owners and charterers.
• Management Agreements: Preparing ship management agreements (technical, commercial, crewing) between owners and ship management companies.
• Sale and Purchase Agreements: Drafting and negotiating MOAs (Memorandum of Agreement) for the sale and acquisition of vessels, ensuring clear terms of delivery, payment, and risk transfer.
• Crewing Agreements: Advising on and drafting agreements related to the employment and management of maritime crew.
• Agency Agreements: Preparing agreements for port agents and other maritime service providers.

The construction of a new vessel is a significant investment requiring meticulous legal planning. We provide comprehensive legal support throughout the shipbuilding process, including:

• Contract Drafting and Negotiation: Preparing and negotiating detailed shipbuilding contracts, encompassing specifications, delivery schedules, payment terms, warranties, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Financing Arrangements: Advising on the legal aspects of shipbuilding financing, including loan agreements and refund guarantees.
• Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating legal risks associated with delays, defects, and non-performance during construction.

Ship mortgages are a critical tool for financing vessel acquisition and operations. The Cyprus legal system provides a robust and reliable framework for registering and enforcing maritime mortgages. Our services include:

• Mortgage Drafting and Registration: Preparing and registering ship mortgages with the Department of Merchant Shipping, ensuring proper legal effect and priority. This process also involves registration with the Registrar of Companies for Cypriot owning entities.
• Security Perfection: Advising on additional security instruments and ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to perfect the lender’s security interest.
• Enforcement of Mortgages: Representing mortgagees in the enforcement of their rights, including vessel arrest and judicial sale procedures.
• Discharge of Mortgages: Assisting with the legal procedures for discharging mortgages upon repayment of secured debts.

Before acquiring a vessel, thorough legal due diligence is paramount to identify and assess potential risks. Our due diligence services for ship acquisition cover:

• Title Verification: Confirming clear title to the vessel and absence of encumbrances.
• Lien Searches: Investigating potential maritime liens, mortgages, and other claims against the vessel.
• Regulatory Compliance: Reviewing the vessel’s compliance history with international conventions and flag state requirements (e.g., safety certificates, pollution prevention).
• Contractual Review: Scrutinizing existing charterparties, management agreements, and other relevant contracts.
• Litigation History: Researching any past or pending litigation involving the vessel or the seller.

We guide clients through every stage of the ship acquisition process, from initial negotiations and due diligence to the execution of the Memorandum of Agreement and the completion of registration. Our aim is to ensure a smooth, efficient, and legally secure transaction, allowing you to expand your fleet with confidence.

Cyprus’s status as a top maritime destination is no accident. With a favorable legal framework, a highly skilled professional services sector, and our firm’s deep expertise in shipping and maritime law, we are your ideal partner for navigating the opportunities and challenges of the global shipping industry.