The Piraeus Maritime Office was established in 1975.
It is the largest, in terms of number of personnel, overseas office maintained by the Shipping Deputy Ministry and it is administratively part of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Athens. The mission of the office is to support the shipping community operating ships under the Cyprus flag, in technical and operational matters, in order to improve the efficiency and quality of the services rendered by the Shipping Deputy Ministry. Within 2022 we anticipate to move to our new premises, also located in Piraeus, upgrading our presence in Greece.
The office provides a wide range of services, including among others, ship registration and related transactions, issuance of ship’s certificates and legalization of official log books and ship’s articles. Shipping companies can carry out the registration of their vessels and all other relevant transactions here in Piraeus, accelerating the process by collecting all the necessary documents from our office. Moreover, the office deals with the process of seafarers’ documentation and certification by administering the necessary exams, and is also responsible for conducting inspections of Cyprus flagged ships in Greece. Having established an efficient way of communication and collaboration with the shipping companies based in Greece, we are able to respond effectively and support the smooth and safe operation of our ships. In this regard, we have successfully dealt with the requests of shipping companies in relation to the difficulties encountered due to the pandemic, in particular concerning crew changes, and the mandatory ship inspections. In relation to the ongoing crew change challenge, in order to further facilitate and support a practical solution, the Shipping Deputy Ministry has taken the initiative to provide vaccines to all seafarers on Cyprus-flagged and Cyprus-managed vessels.
Cyprus has over the years developed a reputation as a quality, modern and efficient flag providing high level services, whilst ensuring the highest possible standards in safety, security and environmental protection. In this context, the 24/7 service, provided also through the Piraeus Maritime Office, is highly appreciated by the Greek shipping community.
As we are in the process to digitalise all services, we will soon be in a position to further increase our efficiency, without losing the human touch. Another important action taken by the Shipping Deputy Ministry, which received also positive feedback from the shipping community, is the abolishment of the registration and other fees, supporting our goal to establish a competitive sovereign registry.
There is a long history of trust between the Greek shipowners and the Cyprus flag and we are confident that our registry remains a reliable and quality option for Greek shipowners.
* Counsellor (Maritime Affairs) | Marine Surveyor A’, Maritime Office, Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Athens