CYPRUS: Shipping Chamber attends ECSA board of directors meeting

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), which comprises the national shipowners’ associations of the European Union organised a Board of Directors meeting on 10 October, in Copenhagen. Capt. Dirk Fry, Board of Directors Member of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, represented the Cyprus Shipping Industry at this important meeting.

During the course of this high level Shipping Meeting, the ECSA Board of Directors discussed the main current issues that affect European Shipping, such as, the measures taken by the EU Shipping Industry to reduce even further the amounts of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as well as the preparation of a strategic vision and work programme 2015-2020 of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations.

Furthermore, during this meeting, the Director General of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, Mr. Thomas Kazakos, was appointed Chairman of the ECSA Committee on State Aid to Maritime Transport, which monitors how the European Commission regulates the specialised taxation system of shipping companies in the European Union, known as "Tonnage Tax", based on which, for example in Cyprus, the Shipping Industry contributes 7% of the national GDP. This appointment reflects the international recognition enjoyed by the Cyprus Shipping Industry, through the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, for the last 25 years.