Weather conditions for boating
During the Cypriot summer, rainfall is scarce or non-existent, with plenty of sunshine. The Meltemi winds blow from April through October and start off mild in the morning but gain strength over the course of the day. These summer winds follow a southerly direction at first but shift towards the west and increase in speed to 15-25 knots by the afternoon. Occasionally, the winter winds may change to a southeast direction and reach speeds of 10-20 knots during December and January, coinciding with the winter rainfall which is mainly confined to these two months.
Limassol, the heart of the Cyprus maritime cluster, hosts more than 200 companies offering shipping and shipping-related services from ship ownership and ship management to shipping insurance, shipping finance, brokerage, bunkering, ballast water system production, marine training, maritime technology in satellite and radio systems and many more.
The Cyprus flag is a top-quality sovereign flag which duly adheres to all safety and security standards deriving from the Paris and Tokyo MoUs and is in the “White List” of both MoUs. More than 150 dedicated maritime specialists at the Shipping Deputy Ministry offer tailored, 24/7 service from our offices in 7 different countries.
Buying a boat in Cyprus? What next?
If you wish to register your recreational craft in Cyprus, you may do so in either the Register of Cyprus Ships or the Register of Small Vessels (Shipping Deputy Ministry).
A recreational craft is defined as any boat of any type intended for sports or leisure activities with a hull length varying from 2.5m to 24m, regardless of the means of propulsion, with the exception of canoes, kayaks, pedalos, and sail/surfboards which include powered surfboards. Jetskis are included in this category.
High-speed small craft that can carry one or more people, while seated or standing, and with an outboard or inboard motor that can reach speeds of 15 knots or more, are subject to registration and fall into two categories depending on their use: category A for private, non-commercial use only and category B for rental purposes.
All high-speed small vessels must have a registration number visible on both sides of the stern, and those in category B must include the letter “B” along with the registration number. The Department of Merchant Shipping determines the size and position of the number according to the law.
Currently, a license is required to operate high-speed small craft, with potential operators required to pass a beginner’s and driver’s test. Anyone wishing to learn may do so at a nautical club. Visitors who stay in Cyprus for under 30 days may be allowed to drive a hired motorboat without a Cyprus licence if the owner of the boat has deemed them competent and they sign a binding declaration of competency before operating it.
Regulations are in place to limit emissions and noise from small-craft engines to help protect the environment in compliance with European standard regulations.
When you allowed to register ship under a Cypriot flag?
The Shipping Deputy Ministry (https://www.dms.gov.cy) can provide you with essential information on boat ownership, licensing, registration, and markings. Generally, a ship may only be registered in the Register of Cyprus Ships if:
(1) more than fifty per cent (50%) of the shares of the ship are owned:
- by Cypriot citizens, or
- by citizens of other Member States (EU/EEA) who in the instance of not being permanent residents of the Republic of Cyprus will have appointed an authorised representative in the Republic of Cyprus, or
(2) the total (100%) of the shares of the ship are owned by one or more corporations, which have been established and operate:
- in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Cyprus and have their registered office in the Republic, or
- in accordance with the laws of any other Member State (EU/EEA) and have their registered office, central administration or principal place of business within the European Economic Area and which will have either appointed an authorised representative in Cyprus or ensured that the management of the ship is entrusted in full to a Cypriot or a Community ship management company having its place of business in Cyprus, or
- outside Cyprus or outside any other Member State (EU/EEA) but controlled by Cypriot citizens or citizens of Member States and have either appointed an authorised representative in Cyprus or ensured that the management of the ship is entrusted in full to a Cypriot or a Community ship management company having its place of business in Cyprus.
The corporation is deemed to be controlled by Cypriots or citizens of any other Member States when more than fifty per cent (50%) of its shares are owned by Cypriots or citizens of any other Member States or when the majority of the Directors of the corporation are Cypriot citizens or citizens of any other Member State.
