Maritime Cyprus Conference welcomes 900 delegates from around the world

Conference Chairman Dr Stelios Himonas, Permanent Secretary, Shipping Deputy Ministry welcomed participants to the Maritime Cyprus conference this morning, noting it was one of the world’s most significant and prestigious shipping events.

He said that the conference provided an opportunity for the discussion of issues relating to international shipping, by international shipping community stakeholders themselves.

This contributed to the taking of sound and well-considered decisions, he continued.

As noted by Himonas, this year’s event has over 900 participants, with its long-term success due to this high participation as well as the high quality of its speakers.

The title of this year’s event is ‘Shipping in action, an agenda for change,’ something that Himonas said had been carefully selected to provide an opportunity for the discussion of a wide range of issues an challenges facing shipping today.

Bringing together local and international shipping sector stakeholders, the Maritime Cyprus 2023 is underway at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol until 11 October.

The Maritime Cyprus Conference is an established biennial event organised by the Shipping Deputy Ministry in cooperation with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the Cyprus Union of Shipowners.

Since being established in 1989, it has grown into one of the world’s most significant shipping conferences, bringing together more than 1,000 participants, including shipowners, shipping executives, regulators, and state officials from all over the world, including high-calibre speakers.

As noted by its organisers, Maritime Cyprus provides the opportunity to the participants to become familiar with the strong maritime tradition of Cyprus and the maritime cluster in Limassol. The event also aims to help ensure Cyprus maintains and enhances its role as an advanced, proactive, competitive maritime nation with a positive contribution both in Europe and internationally.

Speakers and panelists at this year’s event will include President Nikos Christodoulides, Dr. Stelios D. Himonas, Conference Chairman, Permanent Secretary, Shipping Deputy Ministry, Kitack Lim, Secretary General, International Maritime Organization, Adina Vâlean, European Commissioner for Transport, Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President, Arsenio Dominguez, Director, Marine Environment Division, Secretary-General Elect, IMO.

They also included but are not limited to Themis Papadopoulos, CSC President, CEO, Interorient Navigation Co Ltd, Emanuele Grimaldi, ICS Chairman, President & MD, Grimaldi Euromed SpA, Philippos Philis, ECSA President, Chairman & CEO, Lemissoler Navigation Ltd., Dr Gaby Bornheim, President, German Shipowners' Association, Nikolaus H. Schues, President, BIMCO, George Mouskas, Vice President, Cyprus Union of Shipowners, Andreas Hadjiyiannis, President Cyprus Union of Shipowners

Panel discussions included in this year’s programme, with the participation of high profile invited shipping specialists, will be discussing the main challenges shipping faces today, including ‘Sustainable Shipping towards 2050: a Mission (Im)Possible?,’ ‘The Shipowners’ perspective on the future of EU shipping,’ ‘Challenge Accepted: Energy Transition – Where do we Stand?,’ ‘The Role of Shipbuilding in an Evolving Shipping Industry,’ ‘Navigating the Seas of Capital: Exploring Ship Finance,’ and ‘Digital Transformation and current developments.’