Cyprus calls for shipping regulations to account for national circumstances

Busan, South Korea. Cyprus stressed that global maritime rules should take account of individual countries’ circumstances during talks on Monday between Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis and her Norwegian counterpart, Marianne Sivertsen Næss.

Cyprus and Norway discuss maritime rules

Hadjimanolis met Næss, Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, alongside the World Maritime Day Parallel Event 2026. The gathering brought government delegates together with international maritime officials to consider the implementation of global shipping agreements.

The ministers reviewed developments in shipping, with a particular focus on negotiations under way at the European Union and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Their exchanges highlighted international cooperation and the need to recognise national differences when drafting maritime rules and putting them into effect.

Governments examine implementation challenges

Before the bilateral meeting, Hadjimanolis joined the opening ceremony and a ministerial roundtable with South Korean and Norwegian representatives and IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

The roundtable examined governments’ responsibilities for putting IMO conventions into practice. It addressed domestic legislation, regulatory supervision and the practical obstacles countries face in applying standards agreed internationally.

These questions have gained importance as shipping businesses confront tighter environmental obligations, higher compliance expenses and uncertainty about future rules governing fuels.

IMO audits identify shortcomings

The IMO’s latest findings indicate that substantial implementation work is still needed. Across 168 member states, its initial mandatory audit cycle identified deficiencies in the application of maritime conventions, including insufficient technical expertise, shortcomings in domestic laws and inadequate vessel supervision.

The organisation’s assessment said those deficiencies underscored the need to strengthen training, provide technical support and improve collaboration among maritime administrations.

The Busan talks preceded a further negotiating round on the IMO’s proposed Net-Zero Framework. Disputes concerning emissions pricing and standards for future fuels have left the proposal without final approval.