Press Releases

It is a great honour for me to be here with you this evening and to inaugurate the exhibition “The Maritime Tradition of Cyprus” here in the heart of London.

As you know, despite its small size, Cyprus is a country with a very long history which, being an island, incorporates the element of maritime and the sea in its every aspect. From the ancient and medieval ports across all corners of the island, to the long tradition of ship building which cost the island much of its forest land, to the many products and artefacts exported from Cyprus and subsequently discovered on several ancient shipwrecks, one cannot really separate Cyprus’s history and culture from the sea.

This exhibition is in our view a very comprehensive review of the history of shipping in Cyprus, which has been kindly put together by the Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus. The exhibition really does illustrate that the history of maritime Cyprus is in fact as old as the history of the island itself, bearing the stamp of all the civilizations that have flourished on the island over the centuries.

The depth of the Cyprus maritime tradition is of no surprise if one considers the characteristics of the island which, in both its geography, its demographics and the skills of its inhabitants, has been both a popular trading route and a crossroads. The great skill of shipbuilding enabled the island to develop one of the largest fleets worldwide despite its small size. Something which remains in place to this day, with the Cyprus Ship Registry ranking among the leading ship registries internationally.  Yet our maritime tradition goes far beyond our Registry, as Cyprus is also ranked as the largest third-party ship management centre in Europe and amongst the top five in the world.  

The maintenance of a high quality fleet and the effective implementation of the internationally applicable standards for the safety of life at sea, the security of ships and port facilities, the continuous training and development, the protection of the marine environment and the standards for decent work on board ships is the foundation on which Cyprus builds its reputation as a maritime flag of excellence and as a base for international operations.

We are more than aware that as a maritime nation, we are much stronger not on our own, but as part of a dynamic and forward-looking team. To this end, we must reiterate and emphasise the need for international cooperation in order to tackle the challenges that maritime transport faces today.

This is why we attach so much importance to International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) special and central role in facilitating international cooperation. We consider this a necessary prerequisite for developing, maintaining and consolidating a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping. Since becoming a member of the IMO in 1973, Cyprus has played a positive and constructive role in the Organization’s endeavours to achieve the objectives of maritime safety and environmental protection and to improve the living and working conditions of our seafarers.  

The establishment on 1^st of March 2018 of the Shipping Deputy Ministry after a unanimous approval by the Parliament, demonstrates the political support and commitment of Cyprus to the shipping sector. The creation of an autonomous Deputy Ministry reporting directly to the President of the Republic has enabled us to proceed with a number of reforms and changes aiming to reinforce our competitive advantages, to eliminate bureaucracy and to enhance the quality and safety standards to which we are so committed.

As Shipping Deputy Ministry, we aim to contribute even more actively to the development of effective and appropriate policies at IMO level in order to safeguard the competitiveness of the global shipping sector and to ensure its long-term sustainability. For this reason, Cyprus seeks re-election to the Council of the IMO in Category C.

We would of course greatly appreciate the support of the members of the IMO for a successful re-election as a member of the Council of the International Maritime Organization and we promise to do everything in our power to continue the proactive and positive contribution to the Organisation.

On behalf of the Shipping Deputy Ministry, I would like to once again express my appreciation to the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in London, Mr Euripides Evriviades, and the Director of the Press and Information Office of Cyprus, Ms Sophie Michaelides, for organizing this prestigious event and to congratulate them for their excellent work.

I also take this opportunity to thank the Secretary General, the secretariat and, of course, all the members of the IMO for the excellent collaboration we have had to date and to congratulate you for having the courage, the perseverance and the determination to strive for the sustainability of global shipping. Thank you.

(MG)