Speedboat

  • Every motor powered a recreational watercraft either owned for personal use, professional use (leased) or used by the lessor

    1. includes, regardless of the type of craft or construction materials used, all
      - outboard motors with continuous power over 30 HP or
      - in/outboard motors or inboard gas run engines with continuous power over 40 ΗΡ or
      - inboard diesel run engines over 70 ΗP
    2. includes all inflatable watercraft, regardless of the material and type of construction, or the type of hull, double or multiple hulls or hull type-V and have
      - outboard motors with continuous and maximum power over 15 HP
      - in/outboard motors or inboard gas run engines with continuous maximum power over 40 HP or
      - inboard diesel run engines with continuous maximum power over 50 HP or
    3. includes, regardless of the type or the construction materials used, water jets, engines that create jets of water for propulsion, with continuous and maximum power of over 15 ΗΡ.

    Sea Bikes, Jet Skis and Hover Craft are also considered high-speed motor craft (further defined in this General Port Authority Regulation).
    Traditional wooden boats with inboard motors such as «Tserniki», «Varkalas», «Perama», «Traxantiri», «Liberty», «Kontoula», «Ydralike» in addition to any all other similar or related types of craft as defined Ministry’s’ Port Authority Police are excluded, not considered, high-speed motor craft.

    Sailboats with auxiliary engines are also excluded according to the Ministry Decisions #4113.147/2001/30-4-2001 (Government Gazette 615 B΄).

     

  • 1. Article 2 (Interpretation) of the Protection of Swimmers in the Sea - Laws of 1968 and 1986 - Law 72/1968 and Law 12/1986:
     
    "Boat" means any motor or sailing vessel and includes a surfboard, a sea bike, a canoe, a sea scooter and any other floating means capable of putting in danger the safety of swimmers in the sea as well as trailers under them;
     
    2. The entrance and its use in a bathing area is prohibited. 
    Article 4 (1) Prohibition of transit through the areas: 
    4. (1) The declaration of the area shall be prohibited when it
     (a) passes through it 
    (b) is docked or parked therein
    3. It should not be attached to buoys that mark the bathing areas.
     
    Article 4 (B) It is prohibited when:
    4B. Any person who attaches any impure or other object to any buoy at sea whereas the area is designated or interferes in any way with the buoy, then he is guilty of a criminal offense.
     
    Provisions of the High-speed boats Laws of 1992 to 2001 and the high-speed boats Regulations of 1999 related to speed boats:
     
    4. Definition of high-speed boat and high-speed operator.
    Article 2 (Interpretation) of the high-speed boats Laws from 1992 to 2001 - Law 56 (I) / 1992:
     
    "High-speed boat" is a vessel that extends no more than fifteen (15) meters in length and can speed up at least fifteen (15) knots.
     
    'Operator' refers to any person who operates a high-speed vessel at a specified time as well as any person responsible for the operation of the vessel while it is anchored anywhere, while in case of a trailer it refers to the operator of the vessel from which the trailer is towed.
     
    5. Persons who reside in Cyprus must necessarily hold a high-speed operator's license in order to operate high-speed vessels. The license is granted to persons who are over 18 and have passed successfully the theoretical and practical exams. Temporary visitors (such as tourists) are entitled to operate high-speed boats rented by water sports centers, if they have signed a binding agreement with the owner (or the person who is in charge of the facilities) stating clearly that the renter is aware of the proper way of operating the vessel. Persons who have reached the age of 17 may be granted with an apprentice pilot license and they can operate a high speed boat provided that they are always accompanied by a person who has a license.
     
    Article 4 (High-speed boat operator’s license and apprentice operator) of the high-speed boat Laws of 1992 to 2001 - Law 56 (I) / 1992:
     
    4. (1) No one can operate as a speedboat operator unless he is provided with a speedboat operator license (hereinafter referred to as "pilot license") or a licensed apprentice speedboat operator (hereinafter referred to as "apprentice license") issued by the competent authority.
     
    (2) Foreign nationals who reside abroad are not required to hold the license referred to in the above paragraph, provided that they hold a corresponding license or certificate that presents their ability to operate high-speed boats issued by a competent authority.
     
    Temporary visitors for a period of less than thirty (30) days, who do not possess the above license or certificate may operate a Class B cruiser provided that they have signed the specified binding statement with the owner of the vessel in which it appears that the owner has been assured of the visitor's knowledge of the matters specified by the Regulations issued under this Law.
     
    Persons who have reached the age of 17 may be granted with an apprentice pilot license and they can operate a speedboat provided that they are always accompanied by a person who has a license of it.
     
    6. Obligation to transfer the license of a speedboat operator and / or the license of an apprentice speedboat operator, or a binding declaration for the operation of a rental high-speed boat.
     
    Regulation 11 of the Speed Boats Regulations of 1999 - CP 121/1999:
     
    11. Each speedboat operator must carry with him on a waterproof case the pilot's license or apprentice's license, depending the situation,  issued by the competent authority or in the case of a temporary visitor, he must carry a copy of the binding declaration.
     
    7. Provisions for operating speedboats in a safe way.
     
    Article 16 (Operation of high-speed boats) of the speedboats Act of 1992 to 2001 - Law 56 (I) / 1992:
     
    16. Given the fact that the provisions regarding the Baths Protection Acts of 1968 and 1986 and any law amending or replacing them are not interfered, when a high-speed boat is located in an area which is not designated for swimmers but it is used by them, then the operator must enter and exit from this area with the greatest care and attention, as slowly as he can.
    Regulation 31 (1) of the Speed Boats Regulations of 1999 - CP 121/1999:
    31- (1). The high-speed boats that pass through the signaled channels located in bathing areas, as these determined by decree based on the Bathers Protection Act of 1968 and 1986, or any other law that amends or replaces them, as well as in any other maritime area up to 100 meters away from the nearest shore or rock,  should not speed up more than 3 knots and generally does not produce dangerous ripples to the swimmers.
    8. Prohibition of the operation of high-speed boat when the person is under the influence of drugs or medicines and under the influence of alcohol in excess of the specified limit.
     
    Article 8 (Operation of a Speed Boat when the amount level of alcohol during the expiration control exceeds the prescribed limit) of the Speed Boats Laws of 1992 to 2001 - Law 56 (I) / 1992:
     
    8. Anyone handling or attempting to operate a high-speed vessel at sea, having already consumed so much alcohol that exceeds the prescribed limit on exhalation or blood, or under the influence of drugs which reduce it His ability to operate a high-speed boat is guilty of an offense.
     
    Article 3 (provisions of the First Board) of the Speedboat Laws 1992 to 2001 - Law 56 (I) / 1992: Attention: 
    The operator's attention is drawn to its provisions in the Speed Boats Act of 1992 and in particular to the following:
     
    1. It is prohibited to operate a high-speed boat without an operator's license
    2. Anyone who is on board must wear life jackets or navigational aids and must be seated only in the designated seats.
    3. The KillSwitch must always be connected to the operator.
    4. It is prohibited to operate a speedboat in a manner that could put someone’s life and his physical integrity or could cause nuisance
    5. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and psychotropic substances is prohibited
    6. Do not drive in the area of bathers