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 a
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.”