A leading cruise vessel operator has chosen to anchor six technically advanced cruise ships off Limassol in a significant boost to the economy, the deputy ministry of shipping said on Wednesday.
“Following close consultation between the relevant/responsible government authorities and the maritime private sector, we are pleased to announce that Cyprus has been chosen and awarded as a location (in the Limassol Moni anchorage) for the layup of currently 6 technically advanced cruise ships by one of the world’s leading cruise vessel operators, under the support of a local maritime provider,” it said.
Hosting these ships come as a financial boost to the Cyprus economy at a time when it is under pressure because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it added.
The vessels will be paying fees for anchorage, will be ordering goods and services from local suppliers to support the crews onboard (there are no passengers) and will be utilising local companies to provide technical support and assistance, the deputy ministry said.
“The majority of modern cruise ships feature among the most advanced and environmentally friendly vessels ever constructed. The design of these high-technology, multi-million dollar vessels and the systems used in their operation are specifically built to meet the most stringent of environmental legislation and requirements and allow the vessels to operate in some of the most environmentally protected waters on our planet, such as Alaska and the Arctic,” it added.
Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said that Cyprus has proved that through close cooperation between private and government sectors it is possible to work closely together. “This has resulted in our country and location being selected over many other European countries to host these multi-million dollar state-of-the-art vessels,” he said.
Added deputy shipping minister Natasa Pilides: “The presence of these ships in Cyprus waters allows us to demonstrate the strong support infrastructure that we can provide to operators in the cruise industry that will stand us in a good position to develop our relationships for further business in the future.”
