Cyprus and the United Kingdom have agreed on the next steps for putting their maritime cooperation agreement into practice, following talks between Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis and her British counterpart Keir Mather in London this week, according to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).

The bilateral meeting focused on issues of shared interest, including the competitiveness of the shipping industry, the green transition and the challenges currently facing global shipping, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Hadjimanolis said particular attention was given to implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their maritime administrations, with the two sides agreeing how to take the agreement forward.

The agreement was signed in February 2023 between the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry and the UK Department for Transport. Its scope covers maritime safety and security, decarbonisation, ship-source pollution, seafarers’ employment and welfare, maritime education and training, research and innovation, digitalisation and cyber security.

It also provides for cooperation over piracy, fraudulent ship registrations, shipping-related sanctions and within international bodies including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Under the agreement, cooperation can take the form of exchanges of experts, technical workshops, training programmes, technical assistance, exchanges of best practice and greater private-sector involvement.

The two countries had already identified seafarers’ welfare and safety and the green transition as priorities for implementing the shipping agreement. A UK government review published in December 2024 also referred to plans to exchange expertise on implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.

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

Hadjimanolis and Mather also took part in the 18th Annual Capital Link Shipping & Marine Services Forum alongside TEN founder and chief executive Nikolas Tsakos.

The keynote roundtable brought together government and industry perspectives on trade, regulation and maritime competitiveness, with Capital Link confirming Hadjimanolis, Mather and Tsakos as the participants.

According to the Shipping Deputy Ministry, the discussion covered trade and geopolitics, regulatory coherence and decarbonisation, investment in sustainable maritime infrastructure and the competitiveness of the shipping industry.

Hadjimanolis used the discussion to emphasise Cyprus’ approach to those pressures, placing particular emphasis on maintaining a maritime sector capable of remaining competitive while adapting to environmental and regulatory change.

She also pointed to the role of the Cyprus flag, the island’s maritime cluster and cooperation between government and industry in supporting the country’s position as an international shipping centre.

That message follows Cyprus’ wider push this year for closer alignment between competitiveness and decarbonisation. During the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, Hadjimanolis had similarly argued that Europe’s maritime industries need regulatory certainty and investment if they are to remain competitive while moving towards cleaner shipping.

The Council’s maritime industrial strategy, adopted in June, also called for greater investment in clean technologies, alternative fuels and maritime infrastructure.

Hadjimanolis told CNA that Capital Link provided an important platform for governments and the private sector to exchange views on developments and challenges facing international shipping.

Her London programme also included meetings with senior shipping executives aimed at strengthening cooperation and promoting both the Cyprus registry and Cyprus as an international shipping centre.

Among them was a meeting with Foresight Group founder and executive chairman Ravi K. Mehrotra, with the Shipping Deputy Ministry saying discussions centred on opportunities for collaboration and closer cooperation in maritime and shipping activities.

The group operates across shipping, offshore drilling, LPG transportation and port infrastructure.

Foresight was established by Mehrotra in 1984 as a shipping company, before expanding into other maritime, energy and infrastructure activities. A marine engineer by training, Mehrotra began his career with the Shipping Corporation of India in 1964 and rose to chief engineer before establishing the group.

Its shipping business is now heavily focused on the LPG market. Foresight says it is developing a modern Very Large Gas Carrier fleet and is targeting 25 VLGCs by 2034 as it seeks to expand its position in global LPG transportation.