Nicosia, Cyprus. Israel’s National Cyber Directorate said the planned launch of a joint Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in Cyprus is a milestone for strengthening cyber resilience in the Mediterranean maritime sector.
Centre to operate in Nicosia under Cyprus authority
In a statement issued on Thursday, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate referred to the planned operation of the Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (MCCE) in Cyprus.
The centre, to be inaugurated later this year, will operate under the auspices of Cyprus’ Digital Security Authority, in close coordination with the Israel National Cyber Directorate and the Greek National Cybersecurity Authority. It aims to become a leading force in maritime cyber resilience in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Israel’s statement said the centre will be established and operated out of Nicosia and described it as a strategic milestone in reinforcing national and regional cyber resilience of the maritime sector across the three nations and the broader Mediterranean region.
Link to Jerusalem Summit agreement
The statement said the trilateral collaboration implements a shared vision established by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and President Nikos Christodoulides during the Jerusalem Summit in December 2025.
Four operational pillars outlined
According to the statement, the centre will focus on four pillars: threat intelligence, monitoring and real-time information sharing on maritime-specific cyber threats; capacity building, including training programmes and Cyber Range exercises simulating attacks on critical maritime infrastructure, ports and vessels; policy and regulation, including formulating international standards; and innovation and research, aimed at linking Deep-Tech startups with maritime industry leaders to develop technological solutions.
The statement said the centre is expected to act as a growth engine for the technological ecosystems of the three nations and facilitate collaboration among academia, industry and government bodies in research and development, while making defence solutions accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises in the maritime sector.
It added that the centre is intended to protect existing assets and support positioning the Mediterranean as a global hub for maritime technology innovation.
What do you expect the new centre’s main impact to be on maritime cybersecurity in the Eastern Mediterranean?