In order to transpose Directive 2013/38/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 into national law Cyprus has amended the Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Law of 2011 and issued a revised Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Notification.

The amendments incorporate the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (the MLC) into the list of conventions whose implementation is checked by Port State Control and advise the Competent Authority to accept the Maritime Labour Certificate and the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliances as proof of compliance with the requirements of the MLC, and to adopt the onshore seafarer complaint – handling procedures prescribed in the MLC. They also incorporate the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships of 2001 and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage of 2001, and stipulate that ships flying the flag of a state that is not party to the convention must not be treated more favourably than ships flying the flag of a state that is party to the convention.

A consolidated English-language version of the amended Port State Control Law and a translation of the revised Notification are available on the website of the Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping. These are provided for information and guidance, and the original Greek text is the definitive version.