The C.M.C.L Cyprus Marine Club Limited held its final meeting of 2025 yesterday, concluding a year marked by significant developments for the maritime community. Members gathered for a festive-season event that also included an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), during which critical updates to the Club’s governance were approved.

The EGM, officially opened with the required quorum, focused on the adoption of a fully revised and modernised set of Articles of Association. The updated Articles received strong support from the membership.

Members were invited to remain for the open session following the EGM, starting with a few announcements made by the President.

Capt. E. Koch announced the New Year’s Gala on  31 January 2026 will feature a charity lottery supporting the Little Heroes foundation. All members are encouraged to contribute prizes ranging from vouchers to company gifts. Sponsorship opportunities remain available.

Special thanks were extended to ONE NET (Crystal Sponsor) and Pagasarri Navigation (Sapphire Sponsor) for their generous support.

The President further welcomed three new Corporate Members:

• Sallaum Lines, represented at the event by the CEO Kay Lemcke
• SpecTec, represented by Andreas Marneros
• Pagasarri Navigation (Holding of OL Shipping Group), represented by Managing Director Julia Paczkowska.

In closing remarks, the President highlighted the resilience of the global shipping industry throughout 2025. Despite geopolitical tensions, shifting sanctions, decarbonization pressures, insurance challenges, and digitalization, the sector has continued to demonstrate strength and adaptability.

“Networking is no longer a luxury- it is a necessity,” members were reminded by Capt. E. Koch. “Sharing knowledge, exchanging practical experiences, and supporting one another has become one of the strongest tools we have as a community.”

A highlight of the evening was when Capt. Eberhard Koch was pleasantly surprised with a Honorary  Appreciation Award presented by Kyriakos Patsalides,  Director of Academic Affairs of the Cyprus Marritime Academy (CyMA), together with Loucas Hamatsos, Vice-Chairman of the Academy’s Board of Governors. The award was initially planned to be presented during CyMA’s recent presentation for the Club members, but due to Capt. Koch’s travel commitments, the small ceremony was postponed and held yesterday.

The Academy honoured Capt. Koch in recognition of his leadership, dedication as a founding member and former President of the Board of Governos of CYMA and for his continued support in advancing maritime education in Cyprus.

The event concluded with the introduction of Dieter Rohdenburg, a highly respected figure in the shipping sector and the CEO of InterMaritime Shipmanagement Ltd. Following a distinguished career spanning operations, executive leadership, a milestone management buy-out, and the 2025 merger forming InterMaritime, Dieter Rohdenburg continues to hold numerous influential roles across global maritime organisations.

His extensive contributions include positions with BIMCO, Intermanager, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, NorthStandard P&I, MACN, Norwegian Hull Club, CYMEPA, DNV, CCS, and the Cyprus Maritime Academy.

Mr. Rohdenburg delved in his presentation on accelerating Decarbonisation Efforts through On-board Carbon Capture Systems. The interesting presentation provided detailed information on the use of carbon capture systems using calcium looping as a solution to assist decarbonising the shipping industry, and described the on-going pilot project on a trading vessel to provide proof of concept of the system.

Following the presentation, guests enjoyed dinner in a beautifully decorated Gazebo creating a relaxed and engaging atmosphere where maritime professionals inaugurated the Festive Season.