Sea routes between the TRNC and Turkey have not resumed by the promised date

The promised resumption of sea services between the TRNC and Turkey has fallen through. On the evening of August 31, TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said that civilian sea services would resume on September 1, but by morning it became clear that permission for express services had not been granted, and that a decision on the Akgünler Denizcilik catamaran would be made depending on the weather.

Maritime service was suspended after the Filo Jet catamaran crashed off Kyrenia on August 30. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport reported that Akgünler Denizcilik would resume services along a route to be determined by the Coast Guard Command.

After the prime minister’s evening statement, hundreds of people bought tickets, but new information soon emerged: permission for high-speed express services had not been granted. Üstel also said that rules protecting passengers who were unable to travel on tickets they had already purchased had come into effect.

Kyrenia Mayor Murat Şenkul criticized the authorities for their inconsistency. “Is this what government seriousness looks like? Is this how a country is run?” he said, noting that people were calling him and asking for help: “A huge number of people have been left with nothing.”

Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı said that whether the Akgünler catamaran would operate on September 1 would depend on weather conditions. According to him, airfares have now fallen below their usual level.