Cyprus’ Deputy Ministry for Shipping signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday with the Department of Transport of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland for cooperation in the field of shipping.
According to a press release by the Deputy Ministry, in the context of expanding the bilateral foreign relations of Cyprus with important shipping states with the aim of a mutually beneficial cooperation in the shipping sector as well as the holistic and joint response to the challenges faced by the sector, Deputy Minister of Shipping, Vassilios Demetriades and British High Commissioner in Cyprus, Irfan Siddiq, representing the Minister responsible for shipping of the United Kingdom, Baroness Charlotte Vere of Norbiton, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation at the Deputy Ministry.
Prior to the signing of the Memorandum an online meeting was held between Demetriades and Baroness Charlotte Vere of Norbiton, during which issues of common interest, reflected in the Memorandum, were discussed.
It is noted that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom “is an important development that was deemed necessary especially after Brexit” and that, Cyprus and the United Kingdom “are two important maritime nations with a vast wealth of expertise.”
Demetriades said that, the Memorandum lays a solid foundation for the further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the two states in all important aspects of shipping, but also, to work together within the framework of their participation in the International Maritime Organization to face the most important challenges facing the sector.
The Memorandum includes, among other things, the exchange of best practices, the organisation of workshops and training seminars between the maritime administrations of the two states as well as the encouragement of cooperation between the maritime industry of the two sides in matters of maritime safety and protection, decarbonisation of shipping, protection of the maritime environment, further improving seafarers’ working conditions, promoting research and innovation and the digital transformation of shipping, addressing cyber risks and implementing sanctions affecting the maritime transport sector.
Source: Cyprus News Agency