- Ministers Highlight Strong Bilateral Maritime Relations.
- MoU Focuses on Sustainability, Safety, and Training in Shipping.
- Stylianides Meets IMO Secretary-General to Discuss Maritime Challenges.
Greece and the United Kingdom have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that is meant to enhance cooperation on commercial shipping matters. The agreement was signed by Greek Minister for Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Christos Stylianides, and British Minister for Transport, Mike Kane MP, in London during the Greek minister’s visit, reports GTP.
Enhancing Bilateral Maritime Relations
During the meeting, the two ministers underlined the strong maritime links between Greece and the UK, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation both bilaterally and within international organizations. The MoU will be a base for deeper cooperation in key sectors of the maritime industry, emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and development.
Minister Stylianides highlighted the significance of the agreement, stating: “The new memorandum establishes a foundation for expanding collaboration between Greece and the United Kingdom on maritime issues. This marks a new beginning, as it is the first collaboration agreement signed following the Strategic Collaboration Agreement we signed in 2021.”
Focus Areas of the Agreement
The memorandum is designed to strengthen cooperation in several aspects of the maritime sector, including sea transport, green shipping initiatives, sustainable development, and workforce training. The core areas covered through the agreement are maritime safety, environmental protection, training programs, and industry facilitation as a whole.
It will, in practice, encourage the exchange of knowledge, the sharing of best practices, and the organization of conferences and training initiatives. In addition, it aims to enhance private sector involvement in addressing global maritime challenges.
Meeting with IMO Secretary-General
During his visit to London, Minister Stylianides had a meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez. He discussed with him the most crucial challenges facing the maritime industry: the attractiveness of maritime professions, geopolitical developments affecting international shipping, and IMO strategies for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
After the meeting, Minister Stylianides described the discussion as “productive,” stating that it again reaffirmed Greece’s “prominent role and recognition” in global shipping affairs.
Invitation to Athens Shipping Conference
Minister Stylianides invited Secretary-General Dominguez and Minister Kane to attend the “Shaping the Future of Shipping” conference, which is scheduled for 11 June 2025 in Athens. The event is hosted by the Greek Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the International Chamber of Shipping, and the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS).
Visit to NATO Allied Maritime Command
In the course of his visit to London, Minister Stylianides also visited NATO’s Allied Maritime Command. There, he was briefed on its operations. In particular, he was informed about the activities of the NATO Shipping Centre, which plays a very important role in enhancing maritime security.
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Source: GTP
