With this article we would like to remind our members and insureds of the existing sanction regime that is in place in relation to the ports in Northern Cyprus. The reason for doing so is the fact that Cypriot authorities have identified several vessels which entered the port of Famagusta in breach of these sanctions. A number of complaints have been filed with the Dutch government as a result.
The sanctions regime
The sanction regime has been in place since 1974 and affects all vessels calling at ports in the Turkish-occupied part of Northern Cyprus. This regime specifically relates to the ports of Famagusta, Karavostasi and Kyrenia which, pursuant to “Order of Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus Oct. 3, 1974”, are closed to all vessels. This main objective of this measure is to preserve the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus over the ports. There is however also a second reason: due to the loss of effective control over territorial waters and above-mentioned ports, the Cypriot authorities cannot guarantee the navigational safety.
Consequences of a breach
If the sanctions regime is breached, the captain and/or owner of the vessel concerned may be prosecuted by the Cypriot authorities. If found guilty this may result in a fine, imprisonment of up to 2 years or a combination of both. We remind members that the NNPC will not be able to provide cover for claims relating to a sanctions breach and therefor highlight the importance of thorough due diligence checks on the side of the member/insured. If there are any questions about it then please contact us, we are happy to assist.