Cypriot shipowner Philippos Philis is to take the reins at European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA).
Philis served a single three-year term as head of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC). He will be replaced by Themis Papadopoulos, chief executive at Interorient Navigation, who has held the post before.
“The mere fact that six months from now Mr Philis will be the first Cypriot president of [ECSA] clearly reflects the recognition the CSC is enjoying among our international and European colleagues,” the chamber's director general, Thomas Kazakos, said on Thursday, during its 32nd annual general meeting.
Philis, founder, chairman and chief executive of Limassol-based Lemissoler Navigation, is currently ECSA vice president.
His term at the head of the CSC was marked by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cyprus is Europe’s biggest ship management hub and the island’s government promptly adopted a CSC proposal to declare its entire shipping industry an “essential service” worthy of special attention, Philis said.
'Essential service'
As a result, more than 10,000 seafarers have been repatriated or were able to return to work through Cyprus. The government has also been spearheading international efforts to coordinate seafarer vaccinations worldwide.
The CSC has about 200 shipping-related companies and associations as members.
It plans to merge with the Cyprus Union of Shipowners — a separate entity, which is led by owner Andreas Hadjiyiannis and represents 42 companies operating vessels that fly the Cyprus flag, including top names Star Bulk, Navios, Dynacom and Safe Bulkers.
Talks to complete the merger, however, still drag on, several months after an outline agreement to bring the two organisations together was announced.
“We are obliged to advise you that regretfully, despite our hard and sincere efforts towards that aim, it has not yet been made possible to conclude on this matter,” Philis told the CSC meeting, which was held remotely due to coronavirus measures.
Another matter of concern to the CSC that remains unresolved — for 34 years now — is an embargo imposed by neighbouring Turkey, which has occupied northern Cyprus since 1974 following years of inter-communal strife and a failed Greek coup.
Turkey has banned all ships related in any way to Cyprus from calling at Turkish ports.
