Deputy Minister for Shipping wraps up visit to Athens

Vassilis Demetriades, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for Shipping wrapped up his visit in Athens where he had a series of contact with Greek officials and shipping stake holders.

According to a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry for Shipping, during his stay in the Greek capital, Demetriades met with his Greek counterpart Ioannis Plakiotakis.

The two Deputy Ministers assessed the challenges facing shipping associated with the green transition and exchanged views on how Cyprus and Greece, as two large shipping states, could contribute constructively to the shaping of a regulatory framework in which shipping could contribute to climate change, given the characteristics of shipping’s global nature.

Demetriades briefed Platiotakis on Cyprus’ efforts to draft new documents for a tender on a maritime connection between Greece and Cyprus, with the Greek side commending the changes that would render the service more functional and attractive.

The Cypriot Deputy Minister also visited the Piraeus Port Oganisation where he discussed with managerial officials on various issues associated with the maritime connection. Demetriades thanked the PPO officials on the their constructive collaboration with Cyprus’ efforts to draft the new tender documents.

Earlier this year, Cyprus launched a tender for a maritime connection between Cyprus and Greece a connection financed with €5 million in state aid but attracted no binding offers.

He also met with the president and other prominent members of the Cypriot Shipowners Union, as well as the President of Greek Ship Owners Union, while he visited a number of shipping companies in Athens and Piraeus, outlining the Deputy Ministry’s actions and initiatives as well as the Ministry strategic vision.

He assured that the Cypriot government supports shipping and is contributing to the efforts aiming at sustainable growth and the competitiveness of the Cyprus shipping.

On their part the shipowners commended Cyprus recent initiatives concerning green incentives and the sea farers’ vaccination programme.

Demetriades also visited a construction site of Koroneos in Piraeus where Cyprus Shipping Office will be based. The building has been donated by the late Nicolaos Ioannis Koroneos to the Republic of Cyprus.