Cyprus Shipping News

The “Maritime Cyprus 2025” Conference featured a panel discussion, titled “Safeguarding Shipowners in a Rapidly Changing Environment”, organized by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber.Speakers included:Mark O’Neil (Columbia Group)Sebastian von Hardenberg (Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement)Dieter Rohdenburg (InterMaritime Shipmanagement) and Jan Meyering (Marlow Navigation) Topics included decarbonization, digitalzation, ESG compliance and geopolitical uncertainty and how ship-management companies are acting as strategic partners to shipowners…

The Cyprus Shipping Chamber announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously decided to appoint its current Deputy Director General / Marine Manager, Alexandros Josephides, as the next Director General.Josephides will succeed Thomas A. Kazakos, who is taking over as Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping in London, effective 1st April 2025.Completing this year, a very productive 30 years-service with the Chamber, Mr. Josephides holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering.

At a special meeting of the board, held on-line, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have unanimously appointed Thomas A. Kazakos asits next Secretary General. Kazakos will replace Guy Platten who will be stepping down in June 2025.Kazakos has been the Director General of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, the representative National-Member Association of Cyprus at ICS, since 1995. Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping said: “After a thorough search and interview process my board is delighted to confirm the appointment of Thomas Kazakos to this important position for our industry. The coming decade will be pivotal for our industry…

Sustained attacks by Yemen's Houthis on vessels using Red Sea shipping lanes could have a "substantial" impact on economies and a knock-on effect on prices, a key Cypriot shipping industry group said on Thursday.Attacks by Houthis have disrupted a vital trade route, particularly of oil, as vessels access the Suez Canal via the Red Sea. Some shipping lines have been forced to divert vessels from the Red Sea to longer routes, threatening supply bottlenecks."Where countries heavily depend on raw materials…

Cyprus has already overcome the loss of Russian maritime trade due to European sanctions and the Mediterranean shipping hub is chasing business expansion in Japan and elsewhere in Asia as it looks to grow its flag, a senior government official said.Cyprus, together with Greece and Malta, which have the largest shipping fleets in the 27 member EU and host large ship-management centers, have been the most vocal countries in the bloc seeking to limit the extent of shipping restrictions imposed on Russia after its February invasion of Ukraine."Contrary to reports…

HEMEXPO President, Helen Polychronopoulou, says Greek marine technology developers see collaboration between shipping industry stakeholders as the key to innovation and decarbonization.Helen Polychronopoulou has dedicated her career to the successful growth and development of the marine equipment manufacturing industry in Greece and today leads HEMEXPO –  Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters.Established in 2014, HEMEXPO has developed a pivotal role in representing Greek marine technology specialists by reinforcing links worldwide with ship owners and operators…

The Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) has issued a circular outlining  plans to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to all seafarers on Cyprus-flagged and Cyprus-managed vessels as the island nation also explores the potential to become a vaccination hub for all visiting seafarers.Vaccines will be administered by qualified medical staff to all seafarers working on board Cyprus-flagged ships, irrespective of the location of the vessel, and certificates provided, as stipulated in the circular issued Friday, on International Day of the Seafarer.

A global approach to delivering COVID-19 vaccinations to seafarers proposed by Cyprus' Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) aims to help alleviate the global crew change crisis.Over the past year, the need to class seafarers as key workers has received widespread support, with Cyprus now taking this one step further in suggesting the foundation of a feasible solution to inoculations.In letters to the EU Transport and Health Commissioners and IMO Secretary-General, Cyprus SDM, Vassilios Demetriades…

Vassilios Demetriades has been appointed as Cyprus' new Shipping Deputy Minister, the country's president Nicos Anastasiades announced as part of a cabinet reshuffle. The seasoned maritime policy expert, known for his extensive work within the shipping industry and contributions to the European Union (EU), joins the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry effective July 10.Since the ministry's inception in March 2018, the Cyprus flag has grown to become the 11th largest merchant fleet worldwide and the third largest fleet in the European Union.

The Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) formally announced it has adopted a new process to facilitate crew changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crew changes for vessels are possible in Cyprus provided certain conditions are met. The relevant decrees issued by the Ministry of Health also permit the long-term stay in anchorage of vessels, including cruise ships (warm lay-up).Cyprus is actively supporting and implementing such measures, in support of recommendations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO)…

Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) announced that Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou (WISTA Cyprus), CEO of Tototheo Maritime, was re-elected to a second term as President.WISTA International elected Alexandra Anagnostis-Irons, President of Total Marine Solutions (WISTA USA) as Secretary, and Fabiana Simões Martins (WISTA Brazil), as Board Member, to the WISTA International Executive Committee at the 39th WISTA International Annual General Meeting on Grand Cayman on 30 October 2019.Naa Densua Aryeetey (WISTA Ghana), Head, Shipper’s Services & Trade Facilitation, Ghana Shippers’ Authority, was re-elected to a third term as a Board Member.Despina P. Theodosiou, CEO Tototheo Maritime was re-elected to her second term as WISTA International President.

The Cyprus shipping sector continues to make news, as Dr. Heinrich Schulte, the chairman of the Schulte Group, underlined his long-term commitment to the Cypriot shipping industry when he met with H.E. Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, on June 11, 2018. Earlier this month MarineLink.com interviewed Natasa Pilides, Cyprus Deputy Minister of Shipping, on the sidelines of the Posidonia exhibition in Athens, Greece…

Maritime connectivity services provider Globecomm has appointed J&E Papadopoulos as its new representative to the Greece and Cyprus shipping markets.J&E Papadopoulos will provide sales and marketing services locally as well as pre- and post-sales support, installation, commissioning and technical services for Globecomm Maritime products in the region.Established in Piraeus in 1968, J&E Papadopoulos SA is a distributor of marine spare parts, representing numerous European and U.S.

The Board of Directors of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has appointed Martin Cresswell, Technical Director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, as the new Chairman of the ICS Marine Committee. He succeeds Peter Bond (Cyprus Shipping Chamber) who recently stood down following four years of service as Chairman of ICS’s principal technical committee. “The Marine Committee is very much the engine room of ICS, overseeing the work of the many ICS technical committees and the development of policy positions which we represent at IMO meetings…

Cyprus Parliament has passed a bill establishing a shipping junior ministry, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported quoting government sources. The bill, tabled by the government, was approved unanimously, the agency reported, adding that two proposed amendments had been withdrawn without being put to the vote. The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Marios Dimitriades, in a written statement, welcomes the decision of the Parliament to establish a Deputy Ministry of Shipping., noting that Cyprus’ shipping is a big chapter for Cyprus. “It is indeed a very important step towards changing the outdated structure of the 1960 state but still not enough…

The Cyprus Chamber of Shipping has hailed the unanimous decision by MPs to forward for a vote the legislation that will define three new branches of the executive – shipping, tourism and development, reports Financial Mirror. The report quoted the umbrella organisation for the entire maritime sector of shipowners, managers and services saying that  the decision, following the approval by the House Finance Committee on Monday, established an “innovative institutional structure” and will substantially contribute to the further development of Cyprus shipping and the economy, in general. The three State Secretariats will operate independently of the ten-member Cabinet and will report directly to the President.

The University of Nicosia announced the operation of the Cyprus Maritime Academy at the Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement Centre for Nautical Education, where the academy’s facilities are housed. According to local media reports, Cyprus Maritime Academy will receive its first students in September 2016 and offer four-year degree programs which will cover the three main sectors of the nautical industry: Nautical Science, Nautical Engineering, and Nautical Electric Engineering. The Academy will take in 35-40 students in its first year. During the second year of the degree program all students will go through practical training in shipping companies in Cyprus, with 25 of the graduates of the class of 2016 having a secure job placement.

Cyprus is carrying out a new shipping strategy as the country aims to further develop its shipping sector, according to Cyprus News Agency. The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Marios Demetriades says that Cyprus’ government is putting in place a new Shipping Strategy to expand the horizons of the island’s industry and create new opportunities in other markets. Cyprus has established itself as a leading international shipping centre, offering a number of competitive services to the shipping industry as well as other advantages for foreign investors, he said. Cyprus shipping has solid grounds to build on and to expand…

Cypriot president Nicos Anastasiades has expressed his government’s determination to protect and further develop the shipping sector as per report in Financial Mirror. The industry employs 4,500 people on the island and Cyprus-based shipmanagement companies manage about 20% of the world’s third-party fleet. The industry currently contributes 7% to the island’s GDP, and with the launch of a new maritime strategy, Anastasiades believes maritime will “contribute significantly”, saying that he is devoted to “safeguarding the sector”. President Anastasiades added that despite the international adverse economic conditions and the financial difficulties that our country faces in the last years…

As 2,500 ships currently under management by Cyprus-based companies could be registered in the Cypriot registry, a settlement of the Cyprus problem could boost the island`s commercial fleet to new levels, reports CNA. The Cypriot registry currently ranks 10th in the world and 3rd in the European Union with 1,763 ships flying the flag, despite the embargo on Cypriot-flagged ships imposed since 1987 by Turkey. Cyprus has a highly developed ship-management sector, the second largest in the world, with 2,500 ships under management by Cypriot-based firms. According to Cyprus Shipping Chamber Director General Thomas Kazakos, after a settlement, these ships could register with the Cypriot registry “overnight”.

Cyprus shipping sector has evolved in the recent years as one of the leading sectors of the economy and “navigates” Cyprus to economic recovery, President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades stressed says a report by CNA. President Anastasiades expressed the government's appreciation to all participants for their continuous support and the trust they place on Cyprus Shipping and its Flag throughout the years and for contributing towards the 'impressive development of the Cyprus Shipping Industry'. He added that despite the international adverse economic conditions and the financial difficulties that Cyprus faces in the last years, the Cyprus shipping sector managed to maintain its competitiveness and perspectives as a result of combined efforts from the public and private sectors.

Simon Barham has been appointed as the first U.K. Ship Register Director at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, scheduled to start his role in February 2016. Barham brings to the position both commercial and technical experience from his 40 year career in the industry. He initially served at sea for 16 years and since then has held senior positions ashore within both ship owning and ship management companies across the world. Previous roles include chief operations officer at Bibby Ship Management…

BSM reports 20% increase in the number of vessels under its management over the last year. The increase seen by BSM comes as no surprise against the backdrop of a fast growing economy that Cyprus has been demonstrating in recent times. Particularly over the last six months, the country has attracted many private equity firms and shipping companies, such as Ridgebury Tankers, who have set up presence here in Cyprus. Mr McWhinnie, an active member of the board of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association, shares his insights on the contributions of BSM in shaping Cyprus’ ship management scene.