What took place at the 17th Annual Capital Link Shipping & Marine Services Forum in London

Minister Vasilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Hellenic Republic, stated: “60% of European fleet, 70% of European commerce and of course, there's the IMO, there's a big family and these two must be compatible to serve common goods. It cannot be any other way. We have explained numerous times, since the Draghi report, that it's a big opportunity for Europe. Europe cannot lose European shipping. Competitiveness and being able to catch up in the pace, regulated by the US and China. Europe has to show its advantages and European shipping is and will play a key role in terms of that.

So, I don't see any reason that all this cannot be compatible in a way to be able to offer best possible opportunities for the industry and opportunities, also, for governments to create new job opportunities, to create more wealth for Cyprus, for Greece, for all European member states. And in terms of the IMO, to be able to secure a deal - because I want to be clear and honest - I discussed with the General Secretary of the IMO here in London, on the side of this great institution. We support the framework, but we feel that there should be a lot of things that should be better calibrated and we have this ,next month, to be able to do that.

In terms of the correct treatment of LNG, since we have to be realistic and see that we don't have fossils of the future yet, not for the total world fleet, so be realistic and see what the steps are. Support small and medium companies, also, which need that. And the industry respects the name of the game and understands what taxation is all about, but taxation should not be a penalty. Taxation should lead to somewhere. So, if you do not have the fossils yet, you should take it one step at a time and give the right momentum, in terms of the adjustment of the deal. And that being said, we're not alone in that.

I'm very, very happy that Greek ship owners and the Greek industry are well respected. We do what we can in terms of crisis. Remember what we did during the COVID crisis. I was Minister of Health in Greece. Means of personal protection were distributed, mainly, through our ships globally. It's a big example of when there's a big need, what the industry can do.”

Minister Vasilis Kikilias, also made the following statements to the media: “Greece, with 20% of the global fleet, serves international trade and global prosperity and Greek shipping is present everywhere, worldwide, striving to help shape developments in the sector. Within this framework, we are today at an important event such as Maritime Week, during which we have already met with the Secretary-General of the IMO, senior officials of the British Coast Guard and the Ministry of the Interior - and later in the day - with the Deputy Minister of Transport, responsible for maritime affairs. As I said, Greek shipping must be everywhere and we will travel all over the world to support our interests and strengthen the sector, which is very important for the development of the Greek economy, for new jobs and for the prosperity of the country.”

Minister Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President - Republic of Cyprus, stated: “As an island nation with a proud maritime tradition, Cyprus has always been deeply connected to the sea. Today, we are home to one of the world’s largest fleets and a vibrant shipping cluster that brings together global expertise and innovation. Our strategic location at the crossroads of three continents, combined with a robust regulatory framework and our growing role in the energy sector, has established Cyprus as a trusted maritime hub and a forward-looking partner for the global industry.

We are living through decisive moments for international shipping. Aligning ambition, regulation, and reality requires honest dialogue and a shared commitment to practical, scalable solutions. For Cyprus, this means actively contributing to the discussions at the IMO and the EU, while maintaining close cooperation with shipowners and industry stakeholders. Our goal is to advance decarbonisation, digitalisation, and competitiveness in parallel, as well as ensuring that the green transition strengthens, rather than weakens, the resilience of the maritime sector.

Investing in people is equally critical. The future of shipping dep