The ERATOSTHENES CoE will establish a satellite-based maritime research and services and engage in capacity-building and knowledge transfer with the strategic partners, which will include a better understanding of marine and maritime processes in the eastern Mediterranean and contribute to environmental, climate and socio-economic research and studies. The ERATOSTHENES CoE will support maritime traffic, transport and exploitation regulations at national and European/Global scale. Based on a dedicated ERATOSTHENES CoE owned direct data acquisition antenna/facility, which will be used for direct data downlink and obtaining near real-time information, Cyprus will rely much less upon third party maritime surveillance and services for local satellite data. The marine safety and security sector will capitalise on a secured supply of EO data and rapid development of services and customer needs in this domain and specifically in that geographic area.