Seminar in Limassol on Maritime Safety

A speech on the topic of storms and sudden changes in weather was given by Dr. Nikos Mazarakis, as part of the Information Day on Safety at Sea, which was held in Limassol on Monday, November 25, 2019, at the TRAKASOL Cultural Center of Limassol Marina. The day was organized by Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association – CYMEPA, under the auspices of the Deputy Minister of Shipping of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms. Natasa Pilides.

With this Conference, the actions of the 3-year Program "Strengthening the Spirit of Maritime Security in the Eastern Mediterranean", which is supported by the British Charity Foundation Lloyd's Register Foundation and implements the Hellenic Association for the Protection of the Marine Environment – HELMEPA between 2019 and 2022, with partners CYMEPA, Hellenic Lloyd's and the company DYNAMARI.

The event was honored with their presence by the Commander of the Cyprus Navy, Admiral Charalambos Charalambous, the Head of the Port Police, Mr. Philippos Konstantinidis, and the Harbour Master of Pafos, Mr. Thomas Chrysostomou, while representatives of the Deputy Ministries of Shipping and Tourism, the Department of Fisheries, the Cyprus Shipowners' Association and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, as well as interested professionals from the field of maritime tourism and owners and operators of small vessels, participated.

Welcoming those present at the opening of the Conference, the Secretary General of CYMEPA Dr. Michalis Ierides and the Director General of HELMEPA Mr. Dimitris Mitsatsos referred to the excellent cooperation between the two Associations and the mutual effort to achieve the objectives of the program and reduce maritime accidents in the two countries.

After a brief overview of the program's actions and tools by HELMEPA executive I. Pesmatzoglou, the audience followed with particular interest the presentations by Messrs. L. Makris (Yachts & Small Crafts Inspector, Hellenic Lloyd's) on the importance of personal behavior in preventing accidents with small boats and Dr. N. Mazarakis (Physicist-Meteorologist, Professor of Marine Meteorology) with practical knowledge of marine meteorology and advice on avoiding dangerous weather phenomena at sea.

The Conference program was completed by the Senior Ship Inspector of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Mr. K. Kofteros, with data on accidents involving small vessels that have been recorded by the competent services in Cyprus in recent years, sparking a particularly lively discussion on the existing deficits in terms of legislation and mentality that lead to such tragic incidents, as well as the further steps that must be taken by all those involved to prevent them in the immediate future.

The discussion closed with HELMEPA's recommendation to all participants to act as "Ambassadors for Maritime Safety», contributing to the dissemination of the program's messages and results to their colleagues and their local and online community.