Shipping in Cyprus has evolved radically in the past 20 years to meet international regulations on safety at sea and on the prevention of pollution, the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades said in his address on “The evolution of the shipping law” to the Faculty of Law at UCL (University College London), during his visit to the British capital.
Tonight the President will address an audience at the London School of Economics (LSE) on the geostrategic importance of Cyprus.
In his speech at UCL, where he obtained his Master’s degree in maritime law, the President made specific reference to the two areas of international shipping that have evolved radically in the past 20 years, that is matters relating to safety of life at sea and the prevention of pollution from ships.
He noted that increasing piracy activity and the threat of terrorism have given maritime security a distinctive dimension, while with regard to pollution he said that priorities in shipping law are now set into matters such as pollution generated from the use of harmful coatings and transfer of unwanted organisms from ship ballast water of ship bio fouling, as well as into issues relating to climate change and the emission of greenhouse gases.
Turning his attention to Cyprus, he said that “the carrying out of shipping activities in Cyprus entails the existence of an adequate and evolving legal framework.” As he explained, “the past decades have subjected Cyprus shipping law to a double evolution – a quantitative and a qualitative one.”
As far as the first one, he pointed to the adoption by Cyprus of the latest international conventions and protocols on maritime safety and security, prevention of pollution ships, liability and maritime labour, including training, certification and watch-keeping of seafarers.
In terms of qualitative evolution, President Anastasiades spoke of the enactment of sui generis – innovative national legislation that reflects a competitive shipping policy and the evolution due to intrusions from civil law.
The Provost of UCL Michael Arthur and the Dean of the Faculty of Laws Hazel Genn welcomed the President to his “alma mater” and expressed their pride for the achievements of one of the university’s alumni.
The morning schedule of President Anastasiades was concluded with a visit to Westminster Abbey, where he laid a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior, and signed the Book of Distinguished Visitors.
In the Book of Visitors the President wrote the following:
“It is with feelings of humility and deep respect, that I stand witness to the sacrifice of thousands of remarkable men and women who fell heroically in the struggle to achieve the ecumenical values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
May their soul always rest in perfect peace. There could not be a more befitting place to commemorate them, other than the Westminster Abbey, a truly exceptional building that symbolizes the long and rich tradition of the British nation.”
