Address
Mr Alecos Michaelides
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Transport, Communications & Works,
Republic of Cyprus
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I am here today, at the CYpBER 2016 Conference, where ideas and views
on such an important issue such as cyber threats will be exchanged.
In a world where information and communications technology plays a key role and is evolving fast in an
increasingly demanding environment, the shipping and ports industries are required to keep up with the
latest developments of the field in order to achieve security and sustainability.
Cyber technologies are an integral part of the management and operation of numerous systems critical
to ship and port operations. This includes the use of cyber systems to store, process and transmit
information to and from the ships. Modern ships are completely computerized and everything is
connected to networks.
Digitisation and electronic transmission of information aiming at simplifying procedures and formalities,
reducing administrative burdens and facilitating maritime trade are on the priority lists not only of the
European Union but also of the International Maritime Organization.
The implementation of the EU Directive on Reporting Formalities, which requires that Member States
shall accept, as from June 2015, the fulfilment of reporting formalities for ships arriving or departing
from ports of the Member States in electronic format and their transmission via a single window,
showcases the importance that the European Union places on the use of electronic systems and
electronic data transmission in shipping.
The Cyprus Ports Authority, being responsible for the implementation of the Reporting Formalities
Directive in Cyprus, aims to implement a Port Community System (PCS) that will serve as the “Single
Window”. The single window, linking SafeSeaNet, e-customs and other electronic systems– many of
which may be regarded as Critical Information Infrastructure - shall be the place where all information
will be reported once and distributed to all relevant competent authorities (Department of Merchant
Shipping, Customs, Port and Marine Police, Health Department, Aliens and Immigration Unit) as well as
to the port community members (agents, forwarders, container terminals, etc).
The use of electronic systems and electronic exchange of information is not limited to the operation
and communication between ships, ports, port terminals, and various competent authorities, but is also
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