“We’re looking to have a just and equitable transition in shipping. We can only do that if we come together at IMO. And we focus not only on the green environmental agenda than normally hit the headlines. We focus on safety, which is one of the core areas”, International Maritime Organization Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said Monday, addressing the ‘Maritime Cyprus 2025′ Conference taking place in the coastal town of Limassol.
Shipping will continue to grow by around 2% for the next 5 years, according to the United Nations Trade and Development Maritime Review, he said and referred to additional challenges to which the response is working for global implementations of regulations.
Addressing the participants Dominguez called on them to work together in moving forward “with a global regulation that is going to allow us to maintain the global sector when it comes to shipping”.
“I have made it very clear that I’m not in favour of regional measures. I have spoken constantly to the European Union, and I will repeat my message. Once adopted then we expect that the European Union and any other country that have regional or national measures would then only align to the global regulations that IMO”, he stressed.
IMO SG referred to the meetings he had in Cyprus in the framework of the Conference, noting that “we improve by listening, by sharing and by adapting”.
Dominguez also hailed President Christodoulides’ continued commitment in supporting the maritime sector. The IMO SG spoke of decisions and improvements that continue to shape the shipping sector in Cyprus, which are demonstrated very tangibly by the resource and their linked to the work of IMO.
“When it comes to incentives, you also introduced green incentives in line with the recommendations of IMO, and you offer up to 30% reductions when it comes to registration. Your compliance with IMO instrument is also represented in the increase of 20% of the registry in the last 2 years. You are a centre for ship management. You are improving important infrastructure and you are an active member in the negotiations at the IMO and I look forward to maintain that strong cooperation”, he noted.
In her address Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis noted that the success story of Cyprus shipping is rooted in the close collaboration between the public and private sectors, working together to enhance competitiveness and quality.
She said that partnerships with the Cyprus Union of Shipowners and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, together with a powerful industry, exemplify this productive collaboration, demonstrating that collective effort and mutual respect, are the cornerstones of enduring success.
“Cyprus shipping is not only about fleets or vessels. Cyprus shipping is, about the people. The most valuable and strongest component of Cyprus shipping. Our talented, dedicated, and professional workforce, which define the strength of our industry. Our protagonists and ambassadors”, the Deputy Minister went on to say.
Addressing the participants Hadjimanolis called on them to continue to innovate, collaborate and invest in the future of shipping, ensuring that shipping will remain competitive and resilient.
The “Maritime Cyprus” Conference is organised every two years by the Shipping Deputy Ministry in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the Cyprus Union of Shipowners. It was first established in 1989 and since then, has grown into one of the world’s most significant and most attended shipping conferences. Its status now gives it a prominent position in the calendar of many shipping executives, including owners and managers as well as those in charge of organisations with shipping related activities. The “Maritime Cyprus” Conference attracts to Cyprus approximately 800 shipping executives from around the globe.
Distinguished guests and world class experts analyze and discuss specialised issues of concern to the shipping industry.