During the second week of Jan 2021, esteemed Members of the Cyprus Shipping Association participated in the Ship Agent Committee Plenary webinar, organized by FONASBA.
As globally governments are striving towards facing multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and as the newly-formulated vaccines are scarcely distributed amongst nations to protect foremostly essential workers and vulnerable groups of the population, the Shipping, Port and Maritime sectors have not ceased to adapt, lead and operate in servicing global economies and trade.
The webinar focused on new formats of digitalisation available to ship agents globally in order to undertake vessel operations at ports effectively and smoothly during the pandemic and how technology may keep agents ahead of the curve.
Furthermore, the webinar covered the matter of empty container imbalances globally, an issue faced by shipping lines caused by the increasing demand for China exports following resumption from global lockdowns during the third quarter of 2020 and views on the consequences faced and future ahead of the cruise sector which has been detrimentally hit by the pandemic, as vessels are still under warm lay-up conditions today.
We thank FONASBA for a very interesting webinar indeed and our fellow associates from Denmark and Portugal for hosting and presenting the event.
The Cyprus Shipping Association (CSA) was established in 1945, to provide a professional forum for the Shipping Agents of Cyprus. In 1954, following its registration under the provisions of the local Trade Unions Law, the Association became the official body representing the profession of the Shipping Agent in Cyprus. The Members of the Association are the leading and long established Shipping Agencies in the island.
The main aims of the Cyprus Shipping Association are:
As the spokesman for the Shipping Agents in Cyprus, the Cyprus Shipping Association ensures that its voice is heard on public issues affecting its members and contributing to the solution of all their problems. The Association also acts as liaison, negotiator and representative for its members in their dealings with the Government, the Legislature, the Port Authorities, the Department of Customs, the Business Community, the Trade Unions and all other interested parties.
With the Shipping Agent being actively involved in the operation and marketing of the Cyprus Ports, the Cyprus Shipping Association plays an important role in port affairs, taking part in the formation of policies applied and the solution to problems arising. The Association maintains close links with other local and international professional bodies pursuing common objectives. Its international affiliations include membership of the Federation Of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents (FONASBA), the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the the International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association (ICHCA). At local level it is a member of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (C.C.C.I) and the Employers and Industrialists Federation of Cyprus (E.I.F).
The Cyprus Shipping Association further provides its members with a platform for the exchange of professional experiences of common interest and acts as a centre for the collection, evaluation and distribution of information on local and international developments relevant to the profession and the port industry in general. In a day and age of revolutionary changes and of enormous growth in competition, the Association places increased emphasis on the upgrading of the skills of its members and their staff, the technological advancement of their operations and the strategic planning of their activities.
