33 million KGS for life: Kyrgyzstan sets liability limit for maritime transport

Kyrgyzstan has submitted a draft Maritime Code for public discussion. The comprehensive document consists of 308 articles and 33 chapters and regulates maritime transport and liability limits for shipowners and operators. The minimum compensation for death or injury is 333,000 units of account, or 33.3 million KGS, and for other claims, 16.7 million KGS.

The document was developed as part of bringing national legislation into line with international maritime trade standards. Since 2023, Kyrgyzstan has begun to integrate into international processes:

• By a law dated December 27, 2023, the country acceded to the Convention on the International Maritime Organization;
• by the law of September 20, 2025, it joined the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Maritime Code defines the scope of merchant shipping, including the carriage of cargo and mail, fishing, exploration and extraction of seabed resources, search and rescue operations, hydraulic engineering works, scientific research, recreational boating and yachting, the operation of small vessels, and other purposes consistent with the purpose of the vessels.

The adoption of the code will allow Kyrgyzstan to participate in international maritime routes, protect its interests in disputes related to the waters of other countries, expand export and import opportunities, attract investment in infrastructure and ports, and maintain an international register of ships flying the national flag, providing tax incentives to industry participants.

The code will serve as a basis for strengthening the country's position in international trade and integration into global maritime processes, despite its lack of access to the sea.