University of Kyrenia, the first and only Maritime and Aviation University of our country and of the nearby region, held various events to celebrate the Maritime and Cabotage Day on the 1st of July.

According to the press info released by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of University of Kyrenia, Maritime and Cabotage Day has been celebrated since the establishment of the Faculty of Maritime Studies through seminars and this year, students and academic staff of University of Kyrenia attended the seminars where information on the significance of ‘Cabotage Law’, which was put into force in Turkey in 1926, and Turkish Maritime History was revealed.

Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu; The Cabotage Law is a milestone in Turkish maritime issues…

Chairman of Board of Trustees of University of Kyrenia, Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu made a statement on the matter and expressed that the origin of the word ‘cabotage’ was French and that it was a concept regarding the privilege issued to foreigners by a state to trade and transport in coastal waters and harbours of that country. Furthermore, he expressed that, prior to the establishment of Republic of Turkey, cabotage was a part of the capitulations exercised throughout the Ottoman state, and the Anatolian harbours were freely used by foreign ships and sailors. Subsequent to the Lausanne Peace Treaty in 1923, capitulations and the cabotage right of foreigners was terminated and the Cabotage Law was put into force on 1st July, 1926 to protect the rights of Turkish mariners.

Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu further added that this law had become a milestone in modern Turkish Marine and that with this law, only Turkish citizens and ships carrying Turkish flags now had the right to transport cargo and passengers, facilitate towage services and other maritime related services at the Turkish harbours and coasts.

Moreover, Prof. Dr. İlkay Salihoğlu expressed that it was adjudicated for foreign ships and sailors to provide services only between Turkish harbours and harbours of other countries, thus making a great contribution to the Turkish Marine sector. As a result, great improvements were achieved through offering the 8333 kilometre coastal line of Turkey only to the service of Turkish marine and maritime trading. He ended his words by pointing out that new job opportunities were provided to merchant seamen and besides conserving national values, significant contributions were made to the Turkish economy.