We, ClassNK would inform that the Government of Cyprus had issued a Circular (see attachment) concerning the above subject.

The points of the Circular No.01/2002 is as follows:
1. From 1 January 2001, the use of R22 or other HCFC (HydroChloroFluoroCarbon) refrigerants has been prohibited, for refrigerating/air-conditioning systems newly installed in the ships flying the flag of Cyprus.
For systems with capacity less than 100kW, prohibition of HCFC will start on 1 July 2002.
2. For ships,
･ whose keel was laid on/after 1 January 2002 and were registered in the Cyprus Registry
･ whose building contract was signed on behalf of companies registered in Cyprus, before the date of the Circular No. 01/2002 (10 January 2002), or
･ were sold to such companies before the date of the Circular,
and in cases that:
･ refrigerating/air-conditioning system was manufactured before 31 December 2000, and
･ installation of the system is included in the building contract
the administration might consider any reasonable waiver for the above item 1, provided that an application with all supporting documents will be submitted to the Department* by 30 June 2002.
Note) Department*: Department of Merchant Shipping, Ministry of Communications and Works

The backgrounds of the Circular are,
･ The adoption of the phase-out schedule of HCFCs production by 2025, in the Montreal Protocol
･ Phase-out schedule of HCFCs production and control of the use, specified in EC Regulation, No.2037/2000, which reflects the Montreal Protocol.

In addition, we would inform that we have not received any explicit announcement concerning HCFC prohibition up to the present, from the other countries than Cyprus. However, we might receive the similar announcements later, from other EU countries, because EC Regulation comes into force instantaneously among EU countries. We will inform again, when we receive these announcements.

(To be continued)

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Machinery Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2022 / 2023
Fax: +81-3-5226-2024
E-mail: mcd@classnk.or.jp


* * * * *


Attachment: Circular No. 1/2002 (10 January 2002), issued by Ministry of Communication and Works, Republic of Cyprus