Clerides delivers strong message of support for shipping

President Clerides yesterday assured the Cyprus Shipping Council that the state would do everything in its power to improve the `flag of convenience’ image of the Cyprus registry.

In an address read out at the Council’s eleventh annual general meeting yesterday, President Glafcos Clerides said, "I wish to state categorically once again, our strong dedication towards enhancing the image of the Cyprus flag and the Cyprus Maritime Administration… The message to the international shipping fraternity should be crystal clear; we shall not tolerate any substandard vessels in our Registry, and we shall spare no effort in achieving this important goal."

Clerides said the government had recently amended its policy on the registration of over-aged vessels by not allowing ships of over 23 years of age to be registered.

He also said that ships over 15 years old now had to undergo a special inspection prior to their registration under the Cyprus flag.

The President said that 20 inspectors had already been appointed within this framework and that a further eight were being offered positions.

"The government will do its utmost to secure that Cyprus remains an important international shipping centre even after its full accession into the European Union."

He said that Cyprus’ impressive technical and operational infrastructure would be warmly welcomed by the European shipping community.

"It is expected that the EU accession negotiations regarding shipping will soon be completed. We trust that the strong emphasis that the Cyprus government has placed on improving safety standards on board Cyprus flag ships and the continuous support of the local shipping industry, will make a strong case for Cyprus at the European Commission."

Clerides said that this would eventually secure a smooth transition into the European shipping set, "without adverse effects for the industry, especially as regards taxation and the fiscal regime of the Cyprus-based shipping companies."

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.