Ministry: Ada 74 Ship Will Not Be Put Into Service

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport issued a press statement in response to reports published in several media outlets today claiming that the ship named “Ada 74” was preparing to operate between Famagusta and Mersin.

In its written statement, the Ministry recalled that the Ada 74 flies the flag of the Republic of Turkey and noted that completing the legal and technical procedures required for the vessel to operate fell primarily within the authority and responsibility of Turkey as the flag state. It added that the ship could not begin any service before the necessary administrative and technical requirements had been met.

The statement continued:

“The vessel’s classification society is Türk Loydu. Following inspections by Türk Loydu, the ship’s current technical condition will be examined, any deficiencies will be identified, and these deficiencies will need to be rectified. Once the necessary work has been completed, further technical inspections will be carried out to assess whether the vessel is fit to operate.

“In addition, the vessel’s maintenance and repair work at the shipyard must also be completed.

“Once all technical, administrative and legal procedures have been fully completed, the final authority to grant permission for the vessel to operate rests with the flag state. If the flag state completes the necessary inspections and grants operating permission, our Ministry will also assess the vessel’s documentation, technical condition and compliance with safety requirements for voyages within the scope of its own authority and responsibilities. Only if these assessments produce positive results could the process of granting permission for services between TRNC ports and Turkish ports be considered.

“We would particularly like to emphasise that, as of today, none of these procedures has been completed. The necessary technical and administrative requirements for the vessel to be considered fit to operate have not yet been met. Therefore, the Ada 74 ship will not be put into service on the Famagusta-Mersin route or any other route at this stage.

“Our Ministry has made no decision or given no approval under the current circumstances to allow the vessel to operate, nor has it taken any steps in this direction.

“Human life and navigational safety in maritime transport take precedence over all commercial and economic considerations. Our Ministry will prioritise public safety and maritime security in all procedures falling within its authority and responsibility.

“Respectfully announced to the public.”