The Cyprus dispute and its impact on shipping

30 Апр

Проблемы, которые возникают в связи с ситуацией вокруг Северного Кипра, отнюдь не новы. Эти проблемы определяются тем, что территория Северного Кипра управляется местной турецкой общиной, которая объявила о создании независимого государства, признанного только Турцией и считающегося ООН юридически несостоятельным. Правительство Республики Кипр – члена Европейского Союза (ЕС) с 2004 года объявило порты Северного Кипра закрытыми. В свою очередь, Турция наложила в 1987 году серьезные ограничения на суда, связанные с Республикой Кипр будь-то регистрацией, собственностью или менеджментом. В 1997 году Турция разработала новый режим ограничений, в соответствии с которым запрещается заход в турецкие порты судов, следующих из портов Республики Кипр. В связи с этим БИМКО издал свои разъяснения и рекомендации. В Греции и других странах ЕС запрещен импорт товаров, происходящих из Северного Кипра. Заход судов под флагом Греции строго запрещен в порты Северного Кипра, и таможенная документация, выданная в этих портах, не признается и не принимается в этих странах. Все упомянутые положения создают весьма специфический режим судоходства в Восточном Средиземноморье. Например: заход в порты Республики Кипр судов под флагом Турции, следующих прямо из турецких портов, не влечет никаких проблем с портовыми властями Кипра, а заход в турецкий порт судна, следующего из порта Республики Кипр, чреват значительными проблемами, независимо от флага, собственника или менеджмента, так что категорически не рекомендуется, за исключением, пожалуй, случаев, вызванных необходимостью гуманитарного характера, да и в этих случаях такие заходы рекомендуется минимизировать.

Настоящий аналитический материал вызывает повышенный интерес глубиной и точностью юридического анализа, а также практическими рекомендациями по соблюдению особенного режима судоходства, сложившегося в Восточном Средиземноморье.

The Cyprus dispute continues to affect vessels trading in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Failure to comply with the restrictions may have serious consequences for both vessel and crew.

A Gard Member recently enquired about potential future consequences should his vessel undertake a survey at Famagusta, Northern Cyprus. Gard has also been asked if a Liberia-flagged vessel would encounter problems at a later stage if calling at Limassol, Southern Cyprus to bunker on its way from Dortyol, Turkey to a port in Israel.

Although the vessel trading restrictions relating to the continuing Cyprus dispute is not a new issue, the number of queries Gard has received in recent months, and the potentially serious consequences of a breach, has prompted this Update.

Background
Shortly after Cyprus gained independence from the UK in 1960, a dispute regarding the constitution arose between the island’s Greek and Turkish populations. The dispute resulted in the division of the island in 1974. The government of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) has been the only internationally recognised authority on the island since 1974. The RoC became a member of the European Union (EU) in 2004. A Turkish Cypriot attempt to declare the northern part of the island an independent state in 1983, under the name the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), was immediately declared “legally invalid” by the United Nations (UN). As of today, the Turkish Cypriot administered territory of Northern Cyprus has its own legal system although it is recognised as a state only by Turkey.

Impact on shipping

Restrictions imposed by the RoC
The ports of Famagusta, Karavostasi and Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus were declared closed to all vesselsby the RoC government in 1974 (Order P.I. 265/74). Despite several UN led attempts to reconcile the island, the ports continue to remain closed and vessels in breach of the said order are subject to sanctions in any ports under the effective control of the RoC.1

The Ports Authority Law 38/73 Section 15(2) states that the Master and/or owner of a ship arriving at or departing one of the closed ports, “shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to imprisonment not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding seventeen thousand eighty-six Euros (17,086 Euros) or to both such imprisonment and fine, and in case of a ship registered in the Register of Cyprus Ship, the Court dealing with the case has the power to order her deletion from the Register of Cyprus Ship.”

Although Turkey has introduced certain restrictions on Cyprus-flagged vessel (see below for details), vessels sailing from Turkish ports, including Turkish-flagged vessels are free to call any port under the effective control of the RoC.

Restrictions imposed by Turkey
In 1987 Turkey introduced restrictions on the entry in Turkish ports of vessels connected with the RoC. These included Cyprus-flagged, registered, owned or managed vessels. In May 1997, Turkey issued new instructions to its ports and harbours and extended the restrictions to any vessel, regardless of flag, ownership or management, sailing directlyfrom the RoC to Turkey or carrying a cargo of RoC origin. A vessel on a voyage from a port in the RoC to a port in Turkey will therefore not be in breach of the Turkish restrictions if she calls at one or more intermediate ports, e.g. in the Lebanon or Greece, prior to entering Turkish waters.

Any vessel in breach of the Turkish restrictions may be detained or refused permission to carry out loading/discharging operations. According to BIMCO, Cypriot vessels will be allowed passage through the Turkish Straits with or without pilot, but with no other services or provisions available, including bunker supply. In addition, BIMCO also states that Cypriot vessels forced to anchor at a Turkish port due to an emergency are entitled to services only after careful investigation by the authorities. However, such assistance, other than that rendered for humanitarian purposes, will be kept at a minimum.

Restrictions imposed by the EU/Greece
There are, to date, no commercial sanctions against Northern Cyprus and vessels having called at any of the closed ports of Famagusta, Karavostasi or Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus. According to our knowledge and experience, vessels should therefore be free to call at any EU port, including Greek ports, without incurring legal penalties.2

However, according to Gard’s correspondent in Piraeus, goods from Northern Cyprus cannot be discharged in or imported to Greece and Greek-flagged vessels are strictly forbidden to call at any of the closed ports in Northern Cyprus. The correspondent also states that vessels having called at any of the closed ports may well experience problems with customs authorities in the EU and other countries as customs documents issued in Northern Cyprus may not be recognised and accepted in these ports.

Recommendations
Members and clients with vessels trading in the Eastern Mediterranean basin are advised to ensure that masters and crew are familiar with the trading restrictions resulting from the ongoing Cyprus dispute.

Any operation requiring vessels to enter the ports of Northern Cyprus that were declared closed to all vessels by the RoC government in 1974, such as a vessel survey in Famagusta, is not recommended.The Master and/or the owner of the vessel in breach of this restriction may be subject to imprisonment and/or fines when calling at a port under the effective control of the RoC.

Any vessel calling at a port under the effective control of the RoC, arriving directly from a port in Turkey, e.g. from Dortyol to Limassol, should not encounter any problems with Cypriot port authorities. On the other hand, a reverse voyage directly from Limassol to Dortyol would not be recommendedregardless of the vessel’s flag, ownership or management. This may result in the vessel being detained or refused permission to carry out loading/discharging operations in the Turkish port.


We would like to thank Gard’s correspondents
Kalimbassieris Marine Consultants Co Ltd (Piraeus) and Vitsan Mümessillik ve Musavirlik A.S. (Istanbul) as well as BIMCO for their assistance in preparation of this circular.

1 Additional information is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RoC.

2 A European Arrest Warrant (EAW), which would allow for Master’s arrest in any other EU Country, cannot be issued on basis of RoC’s Order P.I. 265/74. For details about the EAW and the EU documents governing the operation of the EAW, see the European Commission’s EAW website.