The Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping (DMS) has announced that with effect from 1 March 2018 it will be transformed into a Deputy Ministry and renamed as the Deputy Ministry of Shipping by reason of the entry into effect of Law 123(I) of 2017.
The headquarters of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping will be in Limassol, in the premises hitherto occupied by the DMS. The abbreviation in English of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping will be DMS and its webpage will be the same, namely http://www.shipping.gov.cy
Under the law establishing the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, any references in the shipping legislation, with the exception of the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents Law of 2012, or in relevant public documents to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works or to the Department of Merchant Shipping will be construed as a reference to the Deputy Ministry of Shipping and any reference to the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works will be construed as a reference to the Deputy Minister of Shipping. Any reference to the Director of the Department of Merchant Shipping will be construed as a reference to the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping.
As successor to the DMS, the Deputy Ministry will assume all its rights, responsibilities, powers and obligations. Any authorisation, approval, license, permit or act issued or made under the shipping legislation will be deemed to have been made under the provisions of the law establishing the Deputy Ministry and the Deputy Ministry will replace the DMS in all court proceedings or legal actions to which the DMS is a party. All powers delegated to the Director and officers of the DMS under the shipping legislation will be construed as being delegated from the Deputy Minister of Shipping to officers of the Deputy Ministry.
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