The Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping has issued an updated list of countries whose certificates of competency are accepted for the issue of endorsement attesting the recognition of non Cyprus certificates of competency under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended.
 
Georgia has been removed from the list in accordance with the decision of the European Commission dated 22 November 2010 which withdrew the recognition that had been granted according to article 18(3c) of Directive 2001/25/EC. The Department of Merchant Shipping will no longer issue Cyprus endorsements attesting the recognition of Georgian certificates of competency but endorsements already issued will remain valid until they expire. The Department of Merchant Shipping will reissue Cyprus endorsements attesting the recognition of Georgian certificates to masters and officers only on the basis of approved seagoing service on board Cyprus flagged ships, involving performance of duties appropriate to the certificate held, for an accumulated period of at least one year during the preceding five years.
 
 
The updated list of countries whose certificates of competency are accepted is as follows:
 
Algeria
Czech Republic
 Indonesia
Netherlands
Russian Federation
Argentina
Denmark
 Iran
New Zealand
Singapore
Australia
Egypt*
 Ireland
Nigeria*
Slovakia
Bangladesh *
Estonia
 Israel
Norway
Slovenia
Belgium
Finland
 Italy
Pakistan
South Africa
Brazil
France
 Jamaica
Peru
Spain
Bulgaria
Germany
 Japan*
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Canada
Ghana*
 Latvia
Poland
Sweden
Cape Verde*
Greece
 Lithuania 
Portugal
Turkey
Chile
Hong Kong
 Malta
Republic of Korea
Ukraine
China
Hungary
 Mexico
Republic of Montenegro
United Kingdom
Croatia
Iceland
 Morocco*
Republic of Serbia
United States
Cuba
India
 Myanmar
Romania
Vietnam

*  Countries which are in the process of being assessed by the European Commission.