Cyprus, the largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia, has been one of the most important bases for seafarers in every period of history, from pirates to state navies, with its strategic location in the center of the Eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus, identified with the Mediterranean and maritime, with the initiative of the Near East Formation; The Maritime History Museum, which will host more than 5 thousand materials such as maritime objects, ship models, nautical maps, pictures and photographs, will share its deep-rooted history in this field with the world. The Maritime History Museum will also offer its visitors a magnificent experience as Cyprus' first floating ship museum.
Cyprus' first floating ship museum, TEAL, which will be transformed into the Maritime History Museum, will aboard the special area built in Kyrenia Harbor with a ceremony to be held on Friday, September 9, at 14.30, with the participation of the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Erhan Arıklı. With the transformation of TEAL into a museum, Girne Harbor, one of the most important sea gates of Northern Cyprus, will also host the Maritime History Museum.
The construction of the special area where the Maritime History Museum TEAL will welcome its visitors has been completed, with the work carried out by the teams of the Near East Initiative at the Port of Kyrenia. 56 cubic meters of concrete was used in the arrangement of the 10 meters long, 4 meters wide and 3.500 meters deep area, which was completed with the hard work of the teams under water.
The 67-year-old TEAL himself is a part of maritime history.
TEAL, which was produced at Liverpool shipyards in 1955 to be used as a minesweeper in the United Kingdom Navy, was transferred to the Australian Navy after many years of use in the British Navy. TEAL, which also served here as a military ship, continued to be used in different areas such as passenger transportation, fishing and water sports tourism in Tanzania and the Caribbean after its retirement. In 1994, it was brought to the TRNC to be used as a Training and Research Ship at the Near East University Maritime Faculty. TEAL, which is also used as a training and research ship within the University of Kyrenia Maritime Faculty, will continue to serve as a museum to the maritime history of which it is an important part.
prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “TEAL, our Maritime History Museum, will also transform the Girne Harbor into a culture and art port.”
Describing the Maritime History Museum TEAL as the pearl of the museums they founded, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Incorporation Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said that TEAL, which is a very important part of maritime history, will host more than 5 thousand works that shed light on the maritime history of the country and the world as the Maritime History Museum.
Reminding that Kyrenia Harbor is one of the most important gates of our country to the outside, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “TEAL will continue to serve as a museum as a token of the Near East Organization's commitment and sensitivity to tourism, culture, our roots and traditions, and will transform the Girne Harbor into a culture and arts port.”
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