The Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping (DMS) has licensed the AdvanFort Company, a world-leading provider of maritime security
solutions for the commercial shipping industry, to supply the services
of armed and unarmed escort guards on those of its flagged vessels
transiting piracy high-risk areas, it was announced today.The decision by Cypriot authorities comes just six months following
similar approval by the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) to conduct
counter-piracy operations aboard vessels flying the Panama flag.“The increasing scrutiny by some of the most important European
Union countries, of armed guards on vessels flying their countries’
flags, is already having its effect, and we are pleased to announce that AdvanFort continues to pass with flying colors,” said AdvanFort President William H. Watson.“Coming after approval by the world’s largest flag state, our
receiving the go-ahead by Cyprus—one of the European countries that is
leading the movement for far greater standards and regulations for
private maritime security companies—is wonderful reflection of
AdvanFort’s own rigorous quality management system.”Captain Watson added that the Cyprus flag is a high-quality one,
offering numerous advantages to ship-owners who register their vessels
in the Cyprus registry, which ranks 10th among international fleets and
3rd within the European Union. He noted that the Cyprus Department of
Merchant Shipping that carried out the review process was at all times
representative of the flag’s renowned professional services.The Cyprus accreditation was announced just a year after the
publication of The Protection of Cyprus Ships Against Acts of Piracy and Other Unlawful Acts Law of 2012 (Law 77/2012) in the official gazette
of the Republic of Cyprus.“AdvanFort wishes to thank the Cyprus Department of Merchant
Shipping for their prompt vetting of our company and their approval of
our highly-trained operators to protect their ships from piracy attack,” the AdvanFort president added.“We have for some time sought to be in the lead of Private
Maritime Security Companies in efforts to win regulatory compliance and
the best-possible use of common ‘lessons learned,’ and the DMS
accreditation is yet another demonstration to our clients and
competitors of what drives us to succeed,” he continued.“Vessels flagged by Cyprus are of great importance and we are
honored by having been given the green light by N.L. Charalambous,
acting director of the Department of Merchant Shipping, and we would
like to thank him and his professional staff, particularly Cpt. G.
Stylianides, who as DMS liaison helped us through the process.” Captain Watson pointed out that Cyprus, like Germany and Belgium, now favor increasingly stiff requirements meant to assure that best
practices rule in their highly competitive markets. “Ship owners and operators have one more reason to turn to AdvanFort,” he concluded. “The Cypriot stamp of approval shows the uncompromising need to maintain
highly proactive systems that ensure state-of-the-art standards.”
WORLD SHIPPING
29 July 2013 - 08:06
AdvanFort to Work with Cyprus-Flagged Vessels
The Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping (DMS) has licensed the AdvanFort Company, a world-leading provider of maritime security solutions for the commercial shipping industry.
WORLD SHIPPING
29 July 2013 - 08:06
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