The Supreme Court of Cyprus, in its admiralty jurisdiction, is
vested with the jurisdiction to hear and determine questions or
claims, inter alia, for loss of or damage to goods carried in a
ship or arising out of any agreement relating to the carriage of
goods in a ship.
Cyprus has not ratified the Hamburg Rules. The operation of
cargo claims in Cyprus is very much based on the old law and
practice that applies in England and the common law or equity
principles. In particular, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Law,
Chapter 263, which essentially adopts the Hague-Visby Rules,
applies only in relation to carriage of goods by sea from a port in
Cyprus to any other domestic or foreign port. Also, the Bills of
Lading Act 1855 and relevant sections in the UK Merchant Shipping
Act of 1894 (both of which apply in the legal system of Cyprus
pursuant to Section 29(e) of Law No. 14/1960) may intervene in
cargo claims to clarify the legal position and possible liability
of owners,
