The Ro-Ro transport ship ADA 74 which will carry out ferry services between Gazimağusa and Mersin has embarked on its maiden voyage to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The ship departed from Mersin port on Wednesday with a ceremony attended by the Turkish Minister of Finance and Treasury Nurettin Nebati and the TRNC Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı.

The boat arrived at Gazimağusa port this morning and will be promoted with an event held at the port later this afternoon.

Speaking at the ceremony in Mersin, Türkiye’s Minister of Finance and Treasury Nurettin Nebati said that it was their duty and obligation to help the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) economy grow stronger.

“We are proud to put this ship we purchased to the service of the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.

The 93m long and 17m wide ro-ro transport ship was purchased by the Cyprus Turkish Maritime Company, managed jointly by the TRNC Ministry of Public Works and Transportation and Türkiye’s Privatisation Authority.

The boat can carry 15 large trucks, 25 small vehicles and 400 passengers.

The Turkish Minister also said that they will continue to implement the Finance Cooperation Protocol signed with Türkiye for the strengthening of the TRNC’s economy.

The Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı for his part said that he had gone back to 1975 when travelling to Mersin where he had boarded the Yeşilada Ferry to come to Cyprus for the first time.

Thanking the officials of the Turkish government for their support, Arıklı expressed the view that a Türkiye with a strong economy and defence industry was the reassurance of the Turkic World.

“The powerful Türkiye we know has prevented all fait accompli in its region, has foiled imperialist plans in Libya and ended the decades-long Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani soil. The same Türkiye has wiped out terrorist elements in northern Iraq. Again it is Türkiye which will protect and promote the TRNC,” he said.