A Lebanese shipping company is advertising a ferry link between Cyprus and Lebanon without having secured the necessary permits, raising serious questions and concerns among Cypriot authorities.
The company has announced plans to launch ferry routes from Lebanon to Larnaca starting June 9, with future extensions to Syria and Turkey also mentioned in its plans. Authorities are mainly concerned about whether the required licenses have been obtained, the legality of the approval procedures, and broader passenger safety issues.
The issue came to light on Thursday through social media posts by Lebanese shipping company Cedar Waves, a subsidiary of Abou Merhi agency. The company promoted a sea connection between the port of Jounieh and Larnaca, claiming the journey would take less than four hours, while also publishing schedules, departure times, and ticket prices.
However, it appears the plans are only announcements for now, as the company has reportedly not presented any formal proposal to Cypriot authorities. Without the necessary approvals and licenses, vessels are not permitted to dock or operate within Cyprus’ territorial waters.
