Syria23 June, 20263 min read
Cedar Waves Cruise Restarts Passenger Trips Between Lebanon And Syria, Docking In Latakia
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Cedar Waves docked in Latakia, reviving Lebanon–Syria passenger cruises after years. Voyage signals broader effort to restore Syria’s Mediterranean maritime links, with Mazen Al-Salehani.
Cruises Return to Latakia
Syrian ports welcomed the first tourist cruise from Lebanon aboard the ship 'Cedar Waves' as it docked at the Port of Latakia on Monday evening, marking the resumption of regular passenger sea trips between the two ports after years of interruption. Tourism Minister Mazen Al-Salehani attended the ship's reception ceremony at the port, while the General Director of the Public Authority for Tourism and Hotel Training, Rakan Abdullah Al-Taie, told SANA that the voyage represents 'an initial initiative after liberation to reactivate the maritime passenger line.' SANA said the ship sails from Jounieh Port in Lebanon toward Latakia Port, then to Mersin in Turkey, and Al-Taie added that reviving the maritime line reflects the recovery of the tourism sector during this period.
Al-Hussein, Director of the Travelers Affairs Department at Latakia Port, said the ship welcomed passengers from various nationalities and that the General Authority for Ports and Customs provided the necessary facilities for the entry of passengers, whether Syrians or from other nationalities. Madona Huweik, the director of the Cedar Waves passenger ship project, said the ship can accommodate about 350 passengers and described the resumption as inaugurating the first sea line linking Lebanon and Syria, with a schedule of two to three trips per week.
New Routes in the Region
In parallel with the Latakia restart, Marai Abu Marai, chairman of Abu Marai Tourism Group, visited Syria a few days ago to inspect the Tartus and Latakia ports as part of preparations for launching tourist and commercial sea voyages.
صيدا اون لاين said the tour included the Attorney General of Syria, George Saiq, representing the Bridge of the Mediterranean Foundation for Tourism and Travel, alongside Dr. Julie Khouri, Director of Social Affairs, and representatives from the Algerian Maritime Agency.
The same article said Abu Marai announced a regular sea line linking Tartus – Jounieh – Larnaca, via daily trips transporting passengers between Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, and Turkey, and said the project aims to revive maritime activity at Jounieh Port and transform it into a key hub within the Eastern Mediterranean maritime transport network.
SANA also described the broader planned connectivity for the Cedar Waves line, saying the ship is planned to connect the ports of Jounieh in Lebanon, Latakia in Syria, Mersin in Turkey, and Larnaca in Cyprus.
Al-Jazeera Net added that Syrian Tourism Minister Mazen Al-Salehani said the step aims to break what he described as the maritime barrier imposed on Syrian ports in recent years, with future plans to expand maritime transport to include large hotel ships and link the Syrian coasts with Mersin, Greece, and Cyprus.
Tourism, Logistics, and Capacity
SANA reported that the General Authority for Ports and Customs provided facilities for passenger entry at Latakia Port, and said the ship welcomed by the port carried passengers from various nationalities. To facilitate arrivals, Al-Salehani explained, according to SANA, that a complete building has been prepared to receive visitors, including registration, baggage screening, and visa fee payments at a single point. Al-Taee told SANA that the voyage is an initial step after liberation to reactivate the sea passenger line, and he said the pace of these voyages is expected to rise in the coming period given that they shorten travel time and meet growing demand for mobility.
Al-Jazeera Net said future plans include expanding maritime transport to include large hotel ships and linking the Syrian coasts with the Turkish port of Mersin, Greece, and Cyprus, to facilitate the movement of tourists and travelers in the region. In the same coverage, Madona Hweik said the Cedar Waves can carry about 350 passengers and welcomed the resumption of sea cruises to Syria after years of interruption, through inaugurating the first sea line linking Lebanon and Syria from Jounieh Port to Latakia Port.