Cyprus has called for international maritime regulations to account for national circumstances, as Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis met Norwegian minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss in Busan, South Korea.
Their talks, held during the World Maritime Day Parallel Event 2026, covered EU and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) negotiations and the importance of cooperation.
Hadjimanolis joined a ministerial roundtable with South Korea, Norway and IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, examining how governments implement maritime conventions through legislation and regulatory oversight.
The IMO’s first mandatory audit cycle, covering 168 member states, identified gaps in technical expertise, national legislation and vessel oversight, highlighting the need for training and technical assistance.
Discussions precede negotiations on the proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework, which remains unapproved amid disagreements over emissions pricing and fuel standards. Technical talks are scheduled for November 23–27, followed by the Marine Environment Protection Committee on November 30–December 3. A framework adoption session is provisionally planned for December 4.
For Cyprus, coordination matters as shipping companies serving European ports face EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime requirements.
The visit forms part of Hadjimanolis’ October 14–29 Asian tour. Cyprus’ ship registry has grown 27% since September 2023, reaching a 25-year high.