CYPRUS Law and Practice Contributed by: Kyriacos Scordis and Sofi Mylona, SCORDIS PAPAPETROU & Co LLC
SCORDIS PAPAPETROU & Co LLC 3 Zenonos Sozou Street 3105 Limassol 3501 PO Box 51094 Cyprus Tel: +357 2581 8444 Fax: +357 2537 2282 Email: limassol@scordispapapetrou.com Web: www.scordispapapetrou.com
1. Maritime and Shipping Legislation and Regulation 1.1 Domestic Laws Establishing the Authorities of the Maritime and Shipping Courts In May 2022, the Cyprus Parliament enacted the Establishment and Operation of a Com - mercial Court and Admiralty Court Law of 2022 (69(I)/2022), establishing a Commercial Court and an Admiralty Court in Cyprus (see 9.1 Other Jurisdiction-Specific Shipping and Maritime Issues ). The provisions of the law in relation to the new Admiralty Court shall enter into force on the date of publication of a notice by the Supreme Court in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus on the constitution of the Admiralty Court and its readiness to operate. Since 1 September 2023, the new Cyprus Civil Procedure Rules of 2023 (the “New Civil Proce - dure Rules”) have been in effect, outlining spe - cific rules to which the new Admiralty Court and legal professionals must adhere. However, Part 43 of the New Civil Procedure Rules, which refers exclusively to admiralty cases, shall enter into force immediately after the commencement of
the new Admiralty Court pursuant to the Estab - lishment and Operation of a Commercial Court and Admiralty Court Law of 2022 (69(I)/2022). Until then, the Supreme Court of Cyprus main - tains jurisdiction to act as an Admiralty Court sitting as a court of first instance (original juris - diction) and as a court of appeal (appellant juris - diction). At first instance, the case is heard by a single judge; on appeal, the case is heard by the full bench. By virtue of Sections 19(a) and 29(2)(a) of the Courts of Justice Law of 1960 (Law No 14/1960), the Admiralty Court has the same powers and jurisdiction as those of the High Court of Justice in England in its admiralty jurisdiction (as they existed immediately before the independence of Cyprus in 1960). Consequently, the English Administration of Justice Act of 1956 defines the admiralty jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court, and the Cyprus Admiralty Jurisdiction Order 1893 regulates the procedure before the Court. The District Courts also have limited jurisdiction on maritime claims, but only on referral by the Supreme Court under certain circumstances.
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