Cyprus and UK agree next steps on maritime cooperation pact

London, United Kingdom. Cyprus and the United Kingdom have agreed on the next steps to implement their maritime cooperation agreement following talks between Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis and British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Keir Mather.

The two officials discussed challenges facing global shipping and ways to deepen bilateral cooperation, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

Implementation of memorandum

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry and the UK Department for Transport was signed in February 2023.

It covers maritime safety and security, decarbonisation, ship-source pollution, seafarers’ employment and welfare, maritime education and training, research and innovation, digitalisation and cyber security.

The agreement also provides for cooperation on piracy, fraudulent ship registrations, shipping-related sanctions and work within international organisations, including the International Maritime Organisation.

Cooperation may include exchanges of experts, technical workshops, training programmes, technical assistance, exchanges of best practice and greater private-sector involvement.

Priority areas

The two countries had previously identified seafarers’ welfare and safety and the green transition as priorities for implementing the agreement.

A UK government review published in December 2024 also referred to plans for an exchange of expertise on implementing the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.

Mather has served at the Department for Transport since September 2025. As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Maritime and Logistics, he is responsible for maritime policy, freight and borders, international transport, security and resilience.

Shipping forum and industry meeting

Hadjimanolis and Mather also attended the 18th Annual Capital Link Shipping & Marine Services Forum with TEN founder and chief executive Nikolas Tsakos.

According to the forum’s official agenda, their roundtable discussed trade, regulation and maritime competitiveness, including tariffs, sanctions, supply-chain resilience and the role of regulators.

During her London visit, Hadjimanolis also met Foresight Group founder and chairman Ravi K. Mehrotra. The Shipping Deputy Ministry said their discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration and stronger cooperation in maritime and shipping activities.

Foresight was founded by Mehrotra in 1984 as a shipping company before expanding into offshore drilling and infrastructure. Its shipping business is focused heavily on LPG transportation and targets a fleet of 25 modern VLGCs by 2034.