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Shipping - Implementation of Regulation (EU) 1177/2010

The Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping has recently issued a circular regarding the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 concerning the rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterway and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004.

Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010 establishes a minimum set of rights of passengers travelling by sea and inland waterway and requires carriers to provide assistance in the event of cancelled or delayed departures and compensation in the event of delayed arrival in certain circumstances. The Regulation also aims to provide disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility with the same opportunities for maritime and inland waterway travel as they are entitled to when using other means of transport in the EU.

In order to secure carriers’ adherence to the Regulation the government has introduced a procedure to impose administrative fines on carriers breaching its requirements, in accordance with article 13 of the Implementation of European Community Regulations and European Community Decisions Law of 2007. The administrative fine for breach of the articles prohibiting discrimination, requiring proper access and assistance for disabled persons and a proper complaints-handling procedure is €17,086 and for less serious breaches, such as failing to provide information on such matters, the administrative fine is €1,708