larnaca port marina expansion
/ By Admin / Cyprus Marina • Larnaca port/ • / 0 Comments

Cabinet approves key Larnaca port, marina expansion to start 2022

****SHOHAM has no connection to KITION OCEAN HOLDINGS****

THIS BLOGPOST IS FOR INFORMATIVE PURPOSES.

The long-awaited €1.2 bln redevelopment of Larnaca port and its marina got the final green light from the government on Friday with construction scheduled for January 2022.

Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos, in a written statement, said the cabinet approved the contract to be signed with the chosen consortium for one of the most important development projects for the coastal town.

“Investments for this grand project are expected to exceed €1 bln with the estimated benefits for the local economy, in addition to the creation of new jobs, expected to exceed €120 mln annually during the completed development.”

Karousos stated the cabinet “expressed its satisfaction with the Project and has authorized me to proceed with the signing of the Concession Agreement. Therefore, in the coming days, we will invite the successful bidder for the signing ceremony”.

He said the signing will take place as soon as possible with work on the project starting in January 2022, following a 12-month transition period from when the agreement is signed.

This will give time for the investors to take over the project – which will take 10 to 15 years to complete — in its entirety.

Karousos said he was is “pleased to be in a position to proceed immediately with the signing of the contract at this difficult time with the pandemic crippling sectors of the economy”.

The consortium awarded the project is Kition Ocean Holdings, a Cypriot-Israeli consortium, composing of investors Eldeman Holding BV and Alexandrou Corporate Services Ltd.

Tender negotiations between the two sides have been ongoing since late 2018 when the consortium’s bid was the only one left on the table after the other bidders pulled out.

The contract involves the restructuring of the marina for at least 650 berths, the port and surrounding land development over an area of 220,000 sqm spanning to a total of 510,000 sqm.

Plans include the development of the marina with the latest technological infrastructure, turning Larnaca port it into one capable of serving large vessels with the expansion of piers, docks and the construction of a modern passenger terminal.

As part of the marina development, there will be a yacht club with a retail park, plus hotels, a private island and residential properties.

Port works will also include the expansion and management of Larnaca port, improving current infrastructure such as the interior road network, storage space as well as creating a new terminal for cruise ships and utilising the port for cargo management.

The area between the marina and the port will see infrastructure works carried out, including a road network, green areas, parks, open spaces for events, as well as an education and medical centre.

The consortium is also planning residential and commercial development with innovative architecture, streets, and parks.

Under the proposed venture, it is estimated that the state will receive more than €19.6 bln during the lifetime of the project which includes the 125-year lease on the real estate.

The BOT project will see the government receiving fixed rent and a percentage of the revenue through a concession agreement with the port/marina operated on a 40-year lease and the real estate is acquired on a 125-year lease.

After 40 years, the port and marina can be handed back to the government who will then decide on their management.

The complete project will span over 10 years or more as it includes building two hotels (lifestyle/business), nine office buildings (mixed-use) of up to 15 floors each and six luxury apartment blocks up to 13 floors each.

Source: Financial Mirror

/ By Admin / Car Shipping/ / 1 Comment

Second-hand cars stranded at port as tax fraud scheme investigated

Hundreds of cars from the UK have been stranded at Limassol port since the weekend as the customs and tax departments issued a directive on Tuesday forcing buyers to pay a deposit to release their car from customs.

The issue caused mass confusion among those who had already bought the cars, as many were caught off-guard by the directive, and some did not have the money for the deposit, calculated at 25 per cent of the cost of the vehicle.

According to reports, 914 cars have been stranded at the port since the weekend as the directive was implemented without warning.

The tax and customs departments issued a statement saying the fee was imposed after information some individuals were buying cars and selling them in Cyprus as part of a tax fraud scheme.

Speaking to Sigma TV, Nicosia head of the Pancyprian Association for the Import of Cars Pambos Kolokotronis said warnings had been issued on the matter by the tax department since January.

“The department warned buyers they could fall prey to people importing cars without the proper tax paid,” he said.

In their statement on Tuesday, the department said the cars were being imported and resold by individuals not registered with the tax department.

In March, the tax office said that luxury cars were being advertised at lower prices on social media by UK companies to lure private buyers from Cyprus. However, the sellers may be involved in a tax scam.

Cyprus, in cooperation with UK authorities, is investigating cases of traders selling cars to Cyprus who may have avoided paying the VAT in both the UK and Cyprus.

The suspect fraudsters are said to be pulling off the tax dodge through double invoicing.

It is believed that mainly UK dealers issue one invoice to the buyer who uses it to clear the car from customs and register it in Cyprus and a second showing that the car has been sold to a VAT registered company in Cyprus which they present to UK authorities.

In the first case, it is assumed that the VAT was paid in the UK, while in the second case the company supposedly registered in Cyprus will pay the VAT.

The tax office urged the public to be careful with such transactions and to ensure that VAT payment is correctly stated in the sales documents either in the UK or in Cyprus.

One buyer, who contacted the Cyprus Mail, said decision is “ridiculous” as it was made without notifying the buyers, who have had their cars stranded at the Limassol port.

“Surely, it [the directive] should be phased in rather than changed overnight,” the buyer said.

The outraged buyer added his vehicles were in transit when the directive was suddenly sprung on them.

Commenting on communication with customs, the buyer said most of the officers were unaware of the changes and had no information on the fate of the stranded vehicles.

“It is very bizarre,” the buyer said.

In their statement, customs said the buyer can pay the fee or have the car sent to a customs storage facility until the investigation for each vehicle is complete.

Source: Cyprus Mail

DEPUTY minister visit VTTV
/ By Admin / Energy • Shipping News/ • / 0 Comments

VTTV €150 million projects boost for shipping

VTT Vasiliko, the Dutch-controlled international energy trader playing a key role in developing the Vasiliko energy hub since 2014, has two more storage projects in the pipeline worth about €150 mln.

The new projects will also boost the Cyprus maritime sector to benefit from increased cargo traffic, as well as services provided by local companies.

Deputy Shipping Minister Vassilis Demetriades visited the VTTV premises where he reviewed first-hand the ship-to-shore fuelling facilities and was also briefed about the upcoming projects.

“The facilities and services provided at the liquid fuel storage terminal at Vasiliko are of the highest standard. What is more impressive is the ultra-modern jetty for the loading and unloading of tankers, as well as the unique ship-to-ship fuel transfer,” Demetriades said.

The junior minister said the synergies of the energy and maritime sectors are evident at Vasiliko, offering great potential to the Cyprus economy.

VTTV’s CEO, George Papanastasiou, said the terminal was the biggest foreign direct investment in energy infrastructure that has a direct impact on shipping.

It was delivered in November 2014 by J&P for €300 mln. The company employs 66 people, up from 25 when it started.

VTTV owns the state-of-the-art jetty in the Vasiliko port, at proximity to the country’s power plants.

It can be adapted for the upcoming FSRU terminal that will provide natural gas for consumption by the local energy producers, primarily the Electricity Authority of Cyprus.

The project, a subsidiary of international oil storage terminal operator VTTI B.V., 50% of which is owned by Dutch Vitol, features 28 tanks with a total storage capacity of 545,000 cubic metres of core fuel (diesel, gasoline and jet fuel) a deep-water marine jetty as well as road tanker loading facilities in phase one.

“The terminal, in conjunction with the island’s strategic location near the Suez Canal, places Cyprus on the map of these fuel transports,” Papanastasiou said.

Papanastasiou told the Financial Mirror that the two projects underway are a small private LNG terminal that is earmarked to cost €15-20 mln, able to serve the local market and also exports to nearby markets, such as Lebanon.

The second is a larger project that is expected to cost some €120-130 mln and will store the Euro-spec output of a major regional refiner for supply to the European markets.

He said VTTV storage is at near-capacity and could not offer its service to oil majors when the price of US crude turned negative in April when the price of the benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell as low as minus $37 a barrel.

VTTV is also part of the H4E Gasfuel consortium for the design and construction of a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) in Cyprus.

The consortium includes Norway’s Hoegh LNG, which has submitted a proposal for the installation of an FSRU in Cyprus by next year.

The consortium aims to provide liquefied natural gas to Cyprus as soon as possible, which will reduce electricity costs for local consumers as well as gas emissions and gas emissions taxes.

With its proposal, Hoegh LNG “offers Cyprus the installation, within the first quarter 2021, of an FSRU at Vasiliko and a pipeline to transport the gas to the EAC’s power plant and potentially other users.”

It said the proposal “does not in any way interfere with the government’s plans, while the Cyprus government will be able to save over €100 mln per year from 2021 onwards, by switching power generation to burning natural gas from heavy fuel oil.”

Cyprus can also achieve lower emissions from power generation, resulting in lower cost while the economy will benefit significantly from lower electricity production cost, said Hoegh LNG in a recent statement.

Source: Financial Mirror

/ By Admin / Shipping News/ / 0 Comments

Cyprus-Piraeus ferry connection by May 2021 viable

The deputy shipping minister said things are on track for launching the Cyprus-Greece ferry connection by May 2021

The goal of launching the Cyprus-Greece ferry connection in May 2021 is on track, the Cyprus deputy shipping minister Vasilis Demetriades said Tuesday.

Demetriades noted that the deputy shipping ministry is in the final stage of setting up the terms of the tender, which is expected to be launched within October.

“The timeframe for May is realistic, because after the launch of the tender we’ll be allowing a period of two to two and a half months for candidates to study proposals, with the goal of the ferry link beginning in early May being part of the terms of the tender, so that we can be ready for the summer season,” Demetriades said, speaking before the House tourism committee.

Interest in the project has been expressed by parties in Cyprus, Greece, but also from the wider European area.

Demetriades noted that there are still matters that are being discussed with Greek authorities, and particularly will officials at Piraeus port, such as matters relating to terminal issues and customs controls as this route will be the first from a country outside the Schengen area.

He said that the state subsidy, for which pre-approval has been secured by the Directorate General of Competition, concerns the passenger aspect of the route for three years, adding that this period is enough to show that the operation of the route is sustainable. Demetriades expressed hope that if the interest expressed “converted into use, I believe that the service will be sustainable in itself”.

Demetriades said that the bidders will have the option of choosing either the Larnaca or Limassol port as the route’s departure point, while they will also have to pick an intermediate stopping point, stressing that the duration of trip is considered an important factor, noting that the Larnaca port is disadvantaged in terms of distance.

The ceiling on the price of a one-way ticket has been set at €50, and €80 for a return ticket.

The Greece-Cyprus ferry connection will help Cypriots embrace shipping, which contributes 7% to the country’s GDP, employs at least 9,000 in shipping companies, about 50,000 seafarers and constitutes 3% of the island’s workforce, Demetriades noted.

Source: KNEWS

/ By Admin / Car Shipping/ / 0 Comments

Car export from Cyprus

Αυτοκινητο μπορεί να εξαχθει εαν:

  • Είναι ακινητοποιημένο και φέρει το πιστοποιητικό ακινητοποίησης.
  • Αν πληρώσει τις οφειλόμενες άδειες κυκλοφορίας. (συνήθως ήταν 3 χρόνια και μετά διαγράφετουν)
  • Ή μπορεί να δοκιμάσει να πιάσει φόρμα από την αρχή αδειών και να πάει στον πρωτοκολλητή στο δικαστήριο και να κάνει δήλωση ότι από την χρονιά που δεν ανανέωνε τις άδειες κυκλοφορίας, ήταν λόγω μηχανικού προβλήματος και μετά θα πάει να το καταθέσει στην αρχή αδειών και να περιμένει αν του εγκρίνουν για να μην πληρώσει τις οφειλόμενες Άδειες.

Επίσης για την εξαγωγή χρειάζεται το original κοτσιάνι.

/ By Admin / Shipping News/ / 0 Comments

DP World Limassol welcomed the Ambassador of Israel to Cyprus to the New Passenger Terminal

The development of the maritime tourism sector and ways to boost cooperation between Cyprus and Israel, were discussed at a meeting held at the Limassol port, between the Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus, H.E. Mr Shmuel (Sammy) Revel, the Chairman of the Limassol Tourism Board, Mr. Tony Antoniou and DP World Limassol officials.

DP World Limassol officials welcomed the Israeli Ambassador and the Chairman of the Limassol Tourism Board to the Limassol port on Thursday, 10 September 2020. Mr Revel had the opportunity to tour the facilities of the New Passenger Terminal and meet with DP World Limassol’s CEO, Nawaf Abdulla, with whom they exchanged views on ways to respond to the emerging challenges facing the tourism and cruise industry of the Eastern Mediterranean, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In statements as part of the visit, the Israeli Ambassador referred to the mutual benefits derived from close cooperation between Israel and Cyprus and stressed that great prospects could open up through joint projects and synergies. “We recognize the significance of tourism for our respective economies and therefore the importance of maintaining a close relationship with Cyprus, host to one of the most important ports of the region. In fact, last year, Israel and Cyprus agreed to jointly promote the Eastern Mediterranean region as a prime holiday destination for cruise lines and even though the pandemic has pushed back our plans for the cruise sector, we strongly believe that our efforts will bear fruit in the near future.”

From his part Mr. Tony Antoniou, Chairman of the Limassol Tourism Board, emphasised the importance of Cyprus-Israel cooperation in the cruise sector and the mutual benefits from joint promotion of the region.

On his part, DP World Limassol’s CEO, Nawaf Abdulla, pointed out that “Establishing the Limassol port as a major cruise hub in the Eastern Mediterranean continues to be one of our major objectives”, adding that “even though the cruise industry was severely affected by the pandemic, we are optimistic that by connecting Limassol with other ports and boosting our cooperation with important neighboring countries like Israel, we can help establish a thriving cruise industry, which will create multiple benefits for the local economy”.

Source: DP World Limassol

/ By Admin / Energy/ / 0 Comments

Larnaca fuel tanks demolition will go ahead in 2021

Good news for Larnaca as residents long-standing demand for the demolition of fuel and gas storage tanks on the town’s coast is expected to be realised in a year.

Fuel and gas industry stakeholders participated in a meeting at the Presidential Palace with President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday, during which they committed to complete work for the transfer of their oil tanks to the fuel terminals at Vasiliko.

At the meeting, EKO and Petrolina representatives said that they have either submitted or will soon submit applications for permits to demolish their Larnaca installations.

Demolishing the oil storage tanks in the town has been a long-standing issue that has plagued Larnaca’s development for decades.

The demolition process is expected to be completed sometime in the summer of 2021.

Port Authority representatives confirmed that the necessary studies for the transfer of the gas facilities with final decisions taken at the end of the year.

In the meantime, companies will continue on the necessary infrastructure at Vasiliko with work on the gas facilities expected to take longer as significant modifications are needed at the terminal.

President Anastasiades is to meet Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras and the municipal council on Monday when he is to inform them on what the fuel companies have agreed.

Residents have voiced concern about the delays in removing a very visible eye-sore on prime coastal land.

Crew change Limassol and Cyprus
/ By Admin / Port Agency News/ • • / 0 Comments

Updates on Crew changes in Cyprus.

You can read below concerning the revised procedure for facilitating crew changes by the SHIPPING DEPUTY MINISTRY TO THE PRESIDENT in conjunction with the latest Decree by the Ministry of Health.

Circular No.: 17/2020

12 August 2020

Revised procedure for facilitating crew changes within the framework of the gradual relaxation of the Restrictive Measures applicable during the COVID- 19 Pandemic

Pursuant to the Decree issued by the Minister of Health titled «the Infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures against the Spread of COVID-19 Coronovirus Decree (No. 30)  of 2020» (P.Ι. 265/2020 published in the Official Gazette of the Republic on 19.06.2020, hereinafter “the Decree”, which is attached hereto), crew changes are possible at Cyprus ports provided certain conditions are met.

This Circular issued by the Shipping Deputy Ministry (“SDM”), which replaces Circular No. 13/2020 dated 12th of June 2020, provides information regarding the revised procedure for conducting crew changes in a practical and effective way, in accordance with the above Decree and the relevant instructions of the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, regarding the operation of Ports and Port Facilities as well as the related protocol for crew changes. This procedure is as follows:

  1. For crew changes involving crew members regardless of nationality which, in the 14 preceding days before their arrival in Cyprus, were in countries belonging only to categories A or B (according to categorisation of countries based on their epidemiological situation), or were onboard vessels which did not dock at any port, or which docked only at ports of countries belonging to categories A or B, no approval is required from the Shipping Deputy Ministry. In all such cases, crew changes should be executed in accordance with all existing measures and procedures applicable to persons arriving from countries belonging to categories A and B.
  • In cases of crew changes on vessels and pleasure crafts for crew members entering the Republic of Cyprus through the airports that do not meet the provisions set out in paragraph 1 above, the shipping agents or the interested companies can apply for the granting of a special permission for entering the Republic of Cyprus at the official web electronic platform of the Republic of Cyprus (https://www.cyprusflightpass.gov.cy), field “Special Permissions”. It is noted that, for the purposes of ensuring that the relevant decrees are met, applications for the granting of a special permission submitted directly by seafarers will not be accepted.
  • In cases of crew changes on vessels or pleasure crafts for crew members that  are about to disembark/ discharge or crew members entering the Republic of Cyprus through the ports of the Republic of Cyprus that do not meet the provisions set out in paragraph 1 above, the shipping agents or the interested companies should submit their requests for approval at the Shipping Deputy Ministry electronically at the following email address: crewchanges@dms.gov.cy.

All requests submitted to the SDM should include the following information:

  • Vessel Name and/ or IMO number
  • Vessel location in the Republic of Cyprus
  • Crew members’ names (on-signers and off-signers)
  • Passport Number
  • Nationality
  • Crew members’ flight details and original country of departure
  • Accommodation arrangements in the Republic of Cyprus (if applicable)

No approval is required for crew changes between vessels (which do not involve the embarkation/ disembarkation of any crew members).

  • In cases where charter flights are organised for the transfer of crew members and/ or passengers, additional permission is required from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works (“MTCW”) for the execution of such flights.
  • The above procedures should be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Decree and of the protocol of the MTCW on crew changes. It is noted that the relevant provisions on crew changes can be found in paragraph 2.10 of the Decree. Provisions for the disembarkation of crew members can be found in paragraph 2.11 and provisions for the disembarkation from pleasure craft can be found in paragraph 2.13 of said Decree.
  • Crew members entering the Republic of Cyprus through the airports of the Republic of Cyprus should fill in the “Cyprus Flight Pass” before boarding the aircraft at the official web electronic platform of the Republic of Cyprus (https://www.cyprusflightpass.gov.cy). Crew members that reside in a country/ or travel from a country/ or have been traveling in a country of category C in the preceding 14 days, in filling in the Cyprus Flight Pass, must select in the field “Passengers that meet the requirements for covid-19 test in Cyprus” the category of passengers “Persons, regardless of nationality, having a special permission by the Republic of Cyprus” and fill in the Special Permission reference number that has been obtained during the procedure described in paragraph 2 of this Circular.

R.A.A. 265/2020

OFFICIAL GAZETTE

OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

THIRD ANNEX PART I

REGULATORY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTS

Number 5302                    Friday, 19 June 2020                      1393

Number 265

THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES LAW, CAP. 260

Decree pursuant to section 6(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f)

The Minister of Health, in exercising the powers under section 6(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of the Infectious Diseases Law, Cap. 260, conferred on him by Decision of the Council of Ministers dated 10 March 2020, hereby issues the following Regulations.

  1. These Regulations shall be referred to as the Infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures against the Spread of Covid-19 Coronavirus) Decree (No.30) of 2020.
  • Whereas the protection of public health and the sanitary care system are the responsibility of the Republic with the aim of containing the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus disease, the protection of public health as well as the prevention of the possible collapse of the health system by any dissemination of the virus, taking into consideration the needs in human resources and logistical services that may be necessary to combat the rapid spread of the disease, and whereas the adoption of additional measures beyond the Regulations that have been issued by the Infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus) Regulations (No.1) to (No. 29) of 2020, has become imperative, and without prejudice to those of the Regulations which continue in force, and

Whereas, by Notice published in the Official Gazette of the Republic on the authorization of the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Health has declared the local districts of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Ammohostos and Paphos as being infected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus, pursuant to article 4 of the Infectious Diseases Law, Cap. 260, the following Regulations are issued:

  • The operation of indoor children’s playgrounds is allowed as of 06:00hrs of 24 June 2020.
    • Regulation 2(5) of the Infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus) Regulation (No.20), is hereby deleted and abolished.
    • Regulations 2.10 and 2.23 of the Infectious Diseases (Determination  of Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus) Regulation (No.28), are hereby deleted and abolished.
    • Populous events, gatherings, demonstrations, parades,  music concerts in public and private spaces, as well as open-air fairs and festivals are prohibited.
    • The presence and gatherings of persons in houses and public spaces is allowed, provided that the safety and health guidelines of the Ministry of Health are upheld.
    • Subsection (iii) of Regulation 2.6 of the Infectious Diseases (Determination of Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus) Decree (No.28), of 2020 is hereby deleted and abolished.
    • As of 00.01 of 20th June 2020, the entry into the Republic shall be allowed, regardless of nationality, from categories A and B countries, in accordance with the categorization of countries, based on the risk assessment, as these are announced by the Ministry of Health subject to the following conditions:
  • Passengers from category A countries will not be required to undergo molecular examination for the COVID-19 disease.
  • Passengers from category B countries will be required to present documentary evidence that they have undertaken a molecular examination for the COVID-19 disease at a certified laboratory with a negative result, valid 72 hours prior to their departure.
  • Passengers from category B Countries, where the authorities of the country evidently do not provide a molecular examination service for the COVID-19 disease, may carry out a molecular examination upon their arrival in the Republic, covering the cost themselves and remaining in compulsory self- isolation until the result is issued.
  • Persons falling into the following categories and entering the Republic from Category B countries, may undertake the molecular examination upon their

arrival in the Republic, covering the cost themselves and remaining in compulsory self-isolation until the result is issued:

  • Cypriot citizens residing permanently in the Republic, their alien spouses and their under-age children,
    • All those residing lawfully in the Republic.
  • Persons arriving in Cyprus and are diagnosed positive to the COVID-19, shall remain in a state of compulsory isolation (quarantine), subject to the  medical protocol of the Ministry of Health.
  • (a) As of 00.01 of 20th June 2020 the entry into the Republic shall be allowed of the following persons from countries not coming under Categories A and B, in accordance with the categorization of countries, based on the risk assessment, as these are announced by the Ministry of Health:
    • Cypriot citizens residing permanently in the Republic, their alien spouses and their under-age children,
    • All persons residing lawfully in the Republic.
  • Persons regardless of nationality, whose presence in the Republic is approved by a competent medical organ, due to their professional or scientific capacity, in order to strengthen the effort to combat the Coronavirus pandemic.
    • Patients, regardless of nationality, who have received treatment at an approved private or public hospital/medical centre in the Republic, which is advisable that they should continue, and
    • First degree relatives residing lawfully in the Republic and/or are financially active in the Republic (wife, children, parents) for the purpose of family reunification.
  • Approval of entry visa to the Republic for persons falling into category (v) is granted following an application to the Committee, which has been appointed by the Council of Ministers at its Meeting dated 17 June 2020.
  • The entry into the Republic of persons coming under categories (i) to (v) is subject to the following conditions:
  • The passenger either undergoes a molecular examination for the COVID-19 disease, with a negative indication, valid 72 hours prior to his departure and presents relevant evidentiary material, or undergoes a molecular examination upon his arrival in the Republic, covering the cost himself and remaining at a place designated to them until the result is issued and thereafter remains in a state of self- isolation for 14 days,
  • All persons arriving in Cyprus who are diagnosed positive to the COVID-19 disease, shall remain in a state of compulsory isolation (quarantine) for 14 days, subject to the medical protocol of the Ministry of Health, and
  • The cost of the air ticket, if any, is borne by each passenger, save those persons who have been sent by the Republic abroad for medical reasons, as well as persons who fall into category (iii).
    • For cruise-ship passengers, who enter the Republic through the lawful points of entry by sea, the same procedures shall apply, which are provided for in Regulation 2.7 of this Decree, as they apply for persons entering the Republic through airports, depending on the category in which the departure country belongs, provided that they have docked during the 14 preceding days in a country that belongs only to categories A or B and provided the safety and health guidelines of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping are upheld.
    • As of 00.01 of 20th June 2020 the entry into or/and departure from  the Republic shall be allowed of persons who are crew members of trading vessels or crew members on platforms carrying out exploratory drillings in the Exclusive Economic Zones of States with which the Republic has established diplomatic relations or crew members of laid-up cruise-ships or crew members of pleasure boats, which are either docked in the harbours of the Republic or arrive by other commercial flights from countries not belonging to categories A and B, in accordance with the categorization of countries, based on the risk assessment, as reviewed by the Ministry of Health, under the following conditions:
  • The said persons are placed in a state of self-isolation 14 days prior to their arrival,
  • They are subjected to a molecular examination for the COVID-19 disease before their arrival, which must be negative and present relative evidentiary material or if this is not feasible upon their arrival and if the examination is positive, they remain in a state of compulsory isolation (quarantine), subject to the medical protocol of the Ministry of Health, and
  • The company for which they work or/and the agent who has undertaken the change of crew, undertakes the transport of the crew directly from the boat to the airport and the transfer of crews arriving by air from the airport to the port of departure, under strict protection measures. If there is no synchronism between the arrival of the ship and the arrival of the flight, or if the results of the molecular examinations are pending,  the company or/and the agent make arrangements with the Authorities for the stay of the crew in specified accommodation, under a state of

isolation, until the arrival of the flight or the ship. Wherever possible, the disembarking crew shall remain on board until the date of flight arrival:

Provided that, for persons already working as crewmembers aboard vessels, which are docked in Cypriot ports and which will depart from the Republic, only subsection (iii) shall apply in their case.

  • As of 00.01 of 20th June 2020, the entry and stay in the Republic shall be allowed of sailors and crew members of ships, who arrive on vessels that are docked in the harbours of the Republic, under the following conditions:
  • For the sailors and crew members of vessels, which arrive in the Republic from Category A countries and provided they have not docked during the preceding 14 days in a country not belonging to Category A, no molecular examination would be required for the COVID-19 disease.
  • The sailors and crew members of vessels arriving in the Republic from Category B countries, provided they have not called within the preceding 14 days at a port of a country not belonging to the categories A and B, in accordance with the categorization, shall present a negative molecular examination certificate for the COVID-19 disease, valid 72 hours before the departure of the vessel, or the said persons shall be subjected to a molecular examination at the place of anchor and they shall remain on board the vessel until the result is issued.
  • For vessels arriving in the Republic from countries which do not belong to the Categories A and B, the sailors and crew members:
    • Are obliged to have completed 14 days in self-isolation and filled out a particular form issued by the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Works, as part of the protocol for change of crew,
    • Are obliged to undergo molecular examination for the COVID-19 disease upon disembarkation,
    • These persons shall remain on the boat or in places of compulsory isolation (quarantine) until the result of the examination is out.
  • If the persons referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) above, are tested positive to the COVID-19 disease, they shall remain in a state of compulsory isolation (quarantine), subject to the medical protocol of the Ministry of Health, and
  • Concerning the conducting of the molecular examinations, the transfer procedure and the isolation of the said persons, until the issuing of the examination results, the procedures provided in Regulation 2.10(iii) will be followed.
  • As of 00.01 of 20th June 2020, the entry into the Republic shall be allowed of persons from countries, which do not come under categories A and B regardless of nationality, for the purpose of implementing public projects or other professional obligations, following an approval by the Committee, which has been appointed by the Council of Minister at its Meeting dated 17 June 2020, subject to the following conditions:
  • If the period of stay in the Republic does not exceed 4 days:
    • The said persons shall be subjected to molecular examination of the COVID-19 disease, unless they produce a negative molecular examination certificate for the COVID-19 disease, valid 72 hours prior to departure.
    • If the molecular examination is carried out upon their arrival, these persons shall, until the examination result is out, remain in places of compulsory isolation,
    • If the persons are tested positive to the COVID-19 they shall remain in a state of compulsory isolation subject to the medical protocol of the Ministry of Health.
    • The said persons shall take precautionary and self-protection measures in the place where they are staying.
  • If the period of stay in the Republic exceeds 4 days:
    • Such persons are subjected to a molecular examination for the COVID-19 examination, unless they present a negative molecular examination certificate for the COVID-19 disease, valid 72 hours prior to departure.
    • If the molecular examination is carried out upon their arrival, these persons shall remain in places of compulsory isolation until the examination result is out.
    • If the persons are tested positive to the COVID-19 disease, they shall remain in as state of compulsory isolation, subject to the medical protocol of the Ministry of Health, and
    • These persons shall remain in a state of self-isolation for 14 days.
  • With the exceptions of Regulations 2.9 to 2.11 of this Decree, the following shall apply as of 00.01 of 20th June 2020, to persons entering lawfully the Republic from the legal points of entry by sea:
  • For pleasure boats arriving in the Republic from Category A countries, no molecular examination or presentation of negative molecular examination certificate shall be required.
  • Persons aboard pleasure boats arriving in the Republic from Category B countries shall be required to present a negative molecular examination certificate for the COVID-19 disease, valid 72 hours  prior to the departure of the vessel, or a molecular examination shall be carried out on such persons at the place of anchorage, in this case remaining on board the boat until the result has been issued.
    • Persons on board pleasure boats arriving from countries not falling under categories A and B and which during the 14 days preceding their arrival have not docked at any port or docked only at the ports of countries not belonging to categories A and B, shall undergo molecular examination for the COVID-19 disease upon their arrival at the place of anchorage; in such case they shall remain on board the boat until the result of the examination is out, and
    • The persons of categories (ii) and (iii) who arrive in the Republic and are tested positive for the COVID-19 disease, shall remain in a state of compulsory isolation (quarantine), subject to the medical protocol of the Ministry of Health.

Provided that, the administrators of the legal points of entry by sea shall see to it that those on board comply with all of the above.

  • Persons entitled to enter the Republic by virtue of the Vienna Convention and which arrive in the Republic from countries beyond Category A, either take a molecular examination for the COVID-19 disease with a negative result, valid 72 hours prior their departure, or carry out the molecular examination upon their arrival in the Republic and remain in a place designated to them until the result has been issued.
  • This Decree shall take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic.
ZIM Guard
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ZIMGuard™ – AI-Based System Developed By ZIM Detects Misdeclarations

ZIM’s new ZIMGuard™ System Scans and Flags Possible Misdeclarations in Real Time, Increasing the Safety of the Supply Chain

ZIM has developed and implemented an innovative AI-based screening software to detect and identify incidents of mis-declared hazardous cargo before loading to vessel.

The new ZIMGuard™ system scans shippers’ cargo declarations at an early stage and flags potential cases of wrongly declared cargo. The system harnesses Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Natural Language Processing (NLP) capabilities and Machine Learning, to analyze documentation and alert operations personnel of occurrences of omission, concealment or erroneous declaration of hazardous cargo – in real time.

Misdeclaration of hazardous cargo has been at the root of major marine incidents, causing loss of life and severe damages. Last year, several carriers announced the imposition of additional fees as a partial solution for this recurring problem. ZIMGuard™ has already proven its efficacy on numerous occasions since its introduction. The ZIMGuard™ system is already in use in major ports in China, the US and Israel, and is expected to be deployed in all ZIM lines by the end of 2020.

Eli Glickman, ZIM President & CEO: “Developing this innovative system exemplifies the creative and unique approach we cultivate in everything we do in ZIM – our secret ingredient. Since launching ZIMGuard, we were alerted to dozens of cases of mis-declared cargo. In view of ZIMGuard’s potential contribution to the safety of the global supply chain, ZIM is willing to commercially offer licensing this system to parties who may be interested in utilizing it.” 

Eyal Ben-Amram, ZIM EVP CIO: “ZIM strives to be at the cutting edge of technology in every aspect of its operations. The introduction of advanced AI capabilities to the critical task of enhancing safety and security is a yet another example of these ongoing efforts.”  

Captain Zadok Radecker, ZIM Global Hazardous & Special Cargos Manager, in charge of Cargo Security, said: “Coping with Misdeclarations of hazardous cargo, which can create a serious risk, is challenging. The new system has proven to be effective and on target. It enable us to identify, investigate and clarify any issue prior to loading, ensuring the safety of the crew and ship, and the safety of the supply chain in general.”