A new era in Greek national maritime legislation began on 1 May 2023


By Valina Giouzelaki and Matina Kanellopoulou, Watson Farley & Williams


with contributions from Constantina Koutsoumpa-Santos


Experts from Watson Farley & Williams are on hand to explain how a new Code of Private Maritime Law (the New Code) will impact the Greek national maritime legislation. The New Code, which came into force on 1 May 2023, replaces the existing code which dates back to 1958, establishing a legal framework for an electronic operation of the register among others.


The New Code’s provisions aim to:


- restore coherence to the code, which has changed considerably following the ratification of numerous international conventions;


- enhance the legal certainty and transparency for transactions regarding the operation and legal status of ships;


- regulate modern forms of maritime activity that were previously overlooked, whilst reforming existing regulations that have in practice proved to be incomplete, inadequate, or outdated, such as the maritime insurance and chartering regimes;


- modernise the legal framework of the code through the digital operation of the register; and


- protect the rights of seafarers by providing for the most appropriate solutions to safeguard the position of Greek seafarers in every aspect of their professional life.


Following is an outline of several of the New Code’s key provisions.


60 | The Report • June 2023 • Issue 104 Valina Giouzelaki Matina Kanellopoulou A. Broader definition of a “ship”


The New Code redefines and broadens the legal concept of what is considered a “ship” in line with the technical and scientific consensus;


- and the concept of a “floating craft” is introduced to cover floating platforms and storages, floating constructions, cranes and platforms.


B. Digitalisation of the Ship Registry


The long-standing policy of port authorities for records being kept in the form of hard copies and handwritten entries in their records is to be abolished, with the New Code establishing a legal framework for an electronic operation of the register, namely:


- electronic record keeping and e-filing;


- submitting documents by electronic means provided they bear an approved e-signature; and


- issuing certificates (including nationality certificates), attestations and other documents in digital form.


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