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Iran is a member of “International Maritime Organization” (IMO) as of 1948, and
it is a party to the following international conventions:
Facilitation Convention
(1965), Load Lines Convention (1966), Tonnage Convention (1969), Intervention
Convention (1969), London Convention (1972), CSC Convention (1972), COLREG
Convention (1972), Intervention Protocol (1973), MARPOL (1973/78 annex I,II,V),
SOLAS Convention (1974), INMARSAT Convention (1976), INMARSAT OA (1976), SOLAS
Protocol (1978), STCW Convention (1978), SAR Convention (1979), SALVAGE
Convention (1989), OPRC Convention (1990), IMO amendments (1993), INMARSAT
amendment (1998).
The Iranian “Maritime Act”, in force as of 1965, which is modeled on some
European countries’ maritime law, has incorporated relevant international rules
and maritime customs.
According
to the said act, all ships with a minimum capacity of 25 tons are considered as
Iranian ships, provided that:
1-
They
are owned by Iranian nationals (if owned by companies, Iranian nationals must
own at least 51% of the company’s capital);
2-
And
registered with the “Iran’s Ports and Shipping Organization” (IPSO).
All transactions and changes with respect to the name of the ship, owners and
the ship itself, must be registered with the IPSO. The exclusive right of
Cabotage is preserved for the Iranian ships.
The said act defines rights, duties and responsibilities of the crew and
masters. Furthermore, it governs transferable bill of lading, charterparty,
maritime lien, hypothecation (respondentia, bottomry), common damages and
responsibilities, limitation of liability etc.
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