By Jean Christou
SENIOR officials at Maritime Cyprus yesterday fended off criticism from delegates over the Cyprus fleet’s detention rate, claiming the flag is being victimised.
So strongly does Cyprus feel on the issue that is has conveyed its aggrieved feelings to the European Commission and is currently in the process of substantiating its claims.
Following an address to delegates at the opening of yesterday’s working session by EU chief negotiator George Vassiliou, Cypriot officials were quizzed over the Cyprus flag’s high rate of detentions compared to member states of the European Union.
According to the Paris memorandum on safety, Cyprus has a 20 per cent detention rate compared to seven per cent for EU member states. The island has only managed to reduce this figure by one per cent in the past two years, according to the European delegate who pointed it out.
“When a flag is being targeted, you cannot draw inferences on the whole fleet on the basis of the results,” said Serghios Serghiou, Director of the Cyprus Merchant Shipping Department. He said that a few years ago ships were being detained for very serious deficiencies. “But in recent cases, and especially this year, they have been detained for very minor deficiencies, in many cases for insignificant deficiencies and in many other cases for no reason at all,” Serghiou said.
Vassiliou admitted that Cyprus had one of the highest rates of detention. “But at long last we have succeeded in conveying the message, and you can’t have a flag to be proud of unless you are sure the rate of detention becomes comparable with that of the EU,” he said. “The beginning is always more difficult than what comes after.”
He said that in this respect Cyprus has taken the steps to appoint more inspectors and to reduce the age of the fleet. “As time goes by we will see a significant improvement in the rate of detention until we reach the same average with EU countries or even better,” Vassiliou said.
In his address earlier, Vassiliou said Cypriot-flagged ships were being targeted “for nothing” simply because attention was being focused on the flag. He said that over the last two years there has been significant progress in everything related to shipping. “It’s not enough any more to rely on promises,” he said.
Vassiliou said the EU has contributed towards the change of attitude in the civil service in Cyprus which was beginning to have an effect on Cypriots and the way they think and behave. “There is a very specific commitment to the EU,” Vassiliou said.
He said the difference between the past and the present was that in the past it was up to the president to push things forward but now it’s the EU checking whether the correct steps are being taken. “We have made progress because we want to convince our EU friends that what we promise, we deliver, ” Vassiliou said referring again to the promise to recruit more new inspectors and computerise the shipping department, actions which, he said, are beginning to become a reality.
“The Cyprus shipping industry is not something that just happened. We are proud to have one of the largest and best fleets. The message of quality not quantity is beginning to filter down to officials,” he said.
Cyprus has not met any serious difficulties on the road to accession, according to Vassiliou, “and certainly not in terms of the maritime industry”. He assured delegates that Cyprus’ accession course would not take the government’s attention away from the importance of the shipping industry and that everything is being done to ensure the sector’s interests.
“Under these circumstances we have no doubts… the future of Cyprus as a shipping centre is assured. When Cyprus joins the EU, Europe will be by far the biggest shipping power in the world,” Vassiliou said.
“I can assure you that the future of the shipping industry in Cyprus is assured, not only because it’s important for Cyprus and you but also the way things are developing is important for the EU as well.”
