Our firm specializes in the registration of vessels under the Cypriot flag and other international flags, as well as in the acquisition of ships and yachts. We provide a comprehensive range of administrative services to ship-owning and chartering companies, including securing finance and offering expert advice on maritime rights.
We offer highly specialized guidance on the taxation of ship-owning and ship management companies, leveraging double taxation agreements to provide optimal financial outcomes.
Advantages of Registering a Shipping Company in Cyprus
Cyprus offers numerous benefits for shipping companies, including:
– Membership in the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and the Council of Europe.
– A democratic government with a free market economy.
– Strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
– Modern and efficient legal, accounting, and banking services based on English practices.
– Double Tax Treaties with 40 countries.
– Signatory to many international maritime conventions.
– Extensive network of bilateral agreements providing national or favored nation treatment in foreign ports.
– Competitive ship registration costs and annual tonnage taxes.
– Comprehensive protection for financiers and mortgages.
– Favorable tax regime for ship management and other offshore enterprises.
– Low setup and operating costs.
– Excellent telecommunications and easy access by air and sea.
– Availability of highly qualified managerial, clerical, and technical staff.
Cyprus is recognized as a leading international shipping center, consistently ranked among the top three third-party ship management centers globally and number one in Europe. The Cyprus flag adheres to all international safety and security standards.
Our Services in Shipping and Maritime Law
Our team of highly-skilled finance lawyers provides a full spectrum of legal services in Shipping and Maritime Law, catering to ship-owners, ship managers, charterers, insurers, and financial institutions worldwide. We handle both contentious and non-contentious matters, including:
1. Vessel Registration: Under the Cyprus flag, including the Registry of Small Vessels, bareboat registration (parallel-in and parallel-out), deregistration, and filing transfers of ownership.
2. Mortgage Registration: Over vessels and ship-owning companies, including deregistration with the competent Cyprus authorities.
3. Company Registration: For Cypriot ship-owning companies, including maintenance and the launch of the special-purpose “Shipping Limited Liability Company.”
4. Ship Financing Transactions: Negotiation and drafting of financing agreements, mortgages, share pledges, assignments and other security documentation and related registration and deregistration.
5. Transactional Documentation: For shipbuilding, ship repair, S&P, lease, chartering, ship management, and affreightment agreements, among others.
6. Legal Advice: On various shipping-related aspects such as Companies Law, Tax Law, Labour Law, ITF, Environmental Law, and Immigration Law.
7. Litigation and Arbitration: Representing clients in disputes related to Cypriot vessels, including security enforcement, personal injury, maritime insurance, collisions, salvage, pollution, cargo issues, orders for arrest or release of vessels, forced sale for execution purposes, employment-related claims, claims based on bills of lading or charter parties and more.