Ahead of the summer season, the new Director General of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Dr Theodoulos Mesimeris, estimates that he will be in a position to present a comprehensive and holistic Action Plan for the prevention, monitoring, control and response to incidents of marine pollution.
Speaking to “Entrepreneurial Limassol”, Dr Mesimeris clarified that the objective is to finally establish a clear coordination mechanism, with well-defined responsibilities and timelines, so that every involved authority knows exactly what actions to take, both preventively and in the event of a crisis.
The starting point of this new effort dates back to January 2024, when the Council of Ministers decided to coordinate, at a central level, the issue of preventing and responding to incidents of marine pollution. As Dr Mesimeris explained, at the time there was intense deliberation over who should assume the role of coordinator, as well as which services and institutional stakeholders could provide meaningful support for this critical objective.
Ultimately, the Council of Ministers decided that coordination would be entrusted to the Director General of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, supported by a group of representatives from co-relevant ministries and services which, in any case, have statutory responsibilities in matters of environmental protection, monitoring and enforcement of legislation. “It was something unprecedented for the Deputy Ministry of Shipping,” Dr Mesimeris noted, as in several instances – particularly with regard to land-based sources of pollution – the required expertise was lacking.
The previous Director General had taken some initial steps, convening the Technical Committee that was established on several occasions. However, with the assumption of duties by Dr Theodoulos Mesimeris, who brings significant experience and expertise from his tenure at the Department of Environment, expectations have risen noticeably. “The workload and responsibility are now greater,” he remarked, noting that he has already begun an extensive round of consultations.
Within this context, the new Director General has already met with the Civil Administrator of the British Bases of Akrotiri, Mr. Giorgos Kiteos, as – he explained – the British Bases have carried out significant work in this field. At the same time, he is planning a nationwide series of meetings with mayors of areas that have faced or continue to face pollution issues, such as Ayia Napa, Paralimni and Paphos, as well as the wider Limassol area, before also hearing in detail the views of the members of the Committee.
The timeline is clear: before the summer, an Action Plan must be prepared as the product of collective effort, which will be submitted as a proposal to the Shipping Deputy Minister, Ms Marina Hadjimanolis, with the aim of being presented to the Council of Ministers for approval. The plan will include specific actions, clearly defined responsibilities and timelines, covering the entire spectrum: from prevention and monitoring to control and the handling of a pollution incident should one arise.
Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening the monitoring of bathing waters. As Dr Mesimeris revealed, his intention is to increase the frequency of sampling, so that instead of once every fifteen days – as currently– it will be carried out on a weekly basis. At the same time, the plan includes the use of technology, through the deployment of drones in cooperation with EMSA, the European Maritime Safety Agency, which will be able to detect overloading of the sea or pollution slicks.
A key pillar of the plan is also the strengthening of inspections, particularly in Limassol, where issues requiring attention have been identified, whether related to infrastructure such as stormwater pipelines discharging into the sea (e.g. licensed water discharges from the basements of high-rise buildings) that require investigation, or even in the area of the Akrotiri Salt Lake. Similar attention is also given to vessels, as – he stresses – in areas such as Paralimni and Ayia Napa, illegal practices involving the discharge of sewage have been observed, a matter of extreme seriousness for tourist destinations.
Dr Mesimeris makes it clear that the new scheme will not alter any existing institutional competences. “It is a coordinating – not an executive – mechanism, aimed at more effective implementation of environmental legislation, the curbing of illegality and the assurance that, should a problem arise, everyone will know clearly what needs to be done,” he concluded.
