Maritime Festival at Mersin Marina
Our “Maritime Festival,” held at our Sailing and Yacht Club, kicked off early in the morning on Saturday, May 24, with men's and women's rowing teams. Following the opening speech, 18 sailboats set off along the designated route, creating delightful scenes across the Eastern Mediterranean over the course of two days. With the support of Macro Center, various brands participating in the festival offered tastings, adding to the enjoyment throughout the event.

On Sunday, May 25, during the closing cocktail reception, which was attended by Yenişehir Mayor Abdullah Özyiğit, Coast Guard Mediterranean Regional Commander Rear Admiral Oğuz Bavbek, Mersin İŞKUR Provincial Director Yunus Emre Akıllıca, and Deputy Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Erkan Akyüz, our manager Mehmet Günaslan gave a speech. Afterward, all boat crews received participation medals, and we collectively welcomed the summer season with a live performance by the band Gece Görüşü.

Mersin Marina in June
As the summer season begins to make itself felt in the Eastern Mediterranean, a variety of events are waiting to welcome guests in our main corridor. On Tuesday, June 3, the Mersin Provincial Directorate ofFamily and Social Services will host an information booth about foster families; from June 11 to 13, Hacı Sabancı Anatolian High School’s year-end exhibition will be on display; on Sunday, June 15, W Property will have a promotional stand; and on Sunday, June 22, Chery will showcase its car exhibition. However, our traditional sea cleaning event took place on Wednesday, June 4, with the support of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality teams.

Maritime Festival at Mersin Marina
As part of our planning themed around yacht festivals, we are preparing to host the “Mersin Marina Maritime Festival” on May 24–25, supported and enthusiastically welcomed by stakeholders in the industry. The festival, which will celebrate maritime culture with a joyful program over the course of two days, will take place at the Mersin Marina Sailing and Yacht Club. We will come together in the unique blue of the Mediterranean to welcome the summer alongside our sailors.
Hoist the sails for an exciting weekend!

Mersin Marina in May
Spring continues to make its presence felt in our main corridor. On Thursday, May 1, the Mersin Chamber Choir gave a polyphonic performance for art lovers. From May 9 to 11, Koluman held an automobile exhibition at our main entrance, followed by Borusan from May 12 to 18. On Saturday, May 10, the Mersin University Nursing Department hosted an informational booth in our main corridor. From May 17 to 18, Arkipera Bosch welcomed visitors at their seaside booth, while Gelişim College students’ exhibition and various activities took place along the main corridor. From May 30 to June 1, artwork by students of the Mediterranean Science and Art Center will be on display for you.

New Brands at Mersin Marina

At the living area of Mersin Marina, the modern marina of the Eastern Mediterranean, two brand-new stores opened at the end of March. 

With its 90-year history of introducing the concept of polo into our lives, Lacoste welcomes you to its spacious and delightful store in our main corridor. Discover the new season right away with colorful, sporty, and stylish products. Starting its 70-year journey with shirts, Gant awaits you at its convenient kiosk store. In addition to its iconic shirts, you’ll also find a selection of stylish seasonal products.

History of Piracy of the Cilicians

During the Hellenistic period, the region of Cilicia, including Mersin, was heavily associated with a negative connotation and the image of Cilicians. This was due to the emergence of pirates who raided both at sea and along the coast in the region. These pirates, solely identified with the region they inhabited, were eventually labeled as "Cilicians". Their blocking of wheat shipments to Rome in the mid-2nd century BC indicates the extent of their strength over time. During that period, Cilician pirates also seized control of around 400 cities along the coasts of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.

The dominance of pirates along the coasts of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas came to an end with the conquest of Anatolia by the Roman Empire. With this change, the people of Cilicia began to view piracy as an honorable profession, putting an end to its infamous reputation. Among the reasons for this shift was the opportunity provided by the Roman Empire for cooperating pirates to settle down. This change was perceived as an opportunity for sailors enduring tough times, and routes became safer. It is known that during that period and thereafter, pirates coexisted in harmony and shared with their own kind. It is believed that the impact of this historical change played a significant role in the advancement of the native people of Cilicia in seafaring and in strengthening their settlements with ports and shipyards. 

Renovation Continues at Mersin Marina

Mersin Marina, the modern marina of the Eastern Mediterranean, continues its renovation process at full speed to gain a new look and enhance ease of use. While the final touches on the pier are completed for our sailor friends, the new stone paving at the land entrance has been completed.

In the ongoing work at our dry dock area, the ground renewal in the section where our helipad is located has been completed, and landscaping efforts have begun. With the renewed tanks and pumps at the waste reception station, we continue to protect the Mediterranean as a sustainable waste facility while providing convenience to our sailor friends.

A Brief Overview of the Bays in Mersin

With its wide coastline and many blue flag beaches, Mersin is a pleasant route for both long vacations and short day trips in the summer months. Daily sunbathing time on this Mediterranean coast varies between 7 and 10 hours on average. However, the daily sea water temperature hovers between 20-34 degrees on average during the summer months.

Especially the blue flagged and untouched bays on the Anamur Bozyazı and Aydıncık route are a pleasant alternative for summer days. With its 38 km coastline, after Aydıncık, the Erdemli-Silifke route attracts visitors with Kız Kalesi, which is considered one of the symbols of Mersin, as well as important bays and historical sites. Anamur’s beach, Akçakıl, Barbaros bay, Boğsak, Bozyazı, Büyükeceli, Dana island, İncekum, Erdemli, Kızlar Hamamı bay, Soğuksu, Susanoğlu, Taşucu, Tisan, Yanışlı village beach and Yapraklı bay are among the beaches you should definitely see in Mersin during your daily or long term vacations.

2024 Sustainability Report from Mersin Marina

Since we began operations in 2011, we have been delighted to share our sustainability efforts, which we prioritize in all our activities, with our stakeholders. Our report, prepared with 2024 data, includes not only our corporate sustainability policy but also our goals and awareness raising initiatives.

In 2024, 138,395.10 kg of solid waste collected within our operations accounted for 99.8% of the total waste, while 22.012 liter of greywater and waste oil made up 0.2% of the total waste.

For more detailed information, you can visit our sustainability page.

A Short Look at Mersin’s Antic Yacht History

The Eastern Mediterranean basin has been prominent in maritime history. Due to its location, Mersin has hosted various routes throughout history. The ancient city of Soli Pompeipolis, which we mentioned in our previous issue, and the ancient ports on the islands off the coast of Mersin, which are the subject of this issue, are examples of this.

It is known that the "Ancient City of Anemurium", which is located 111 nautical miles from Mersin Marina and whose name means "windy nose", was mentioned in the port records in the fourth century BC. Due to its proximity to Cyprus, Anemurium, which is known to have been used as an intermediate station, especially in the Roman Period, was built on a land structure that rises with a slight slope starting from the ancient harbor. While the city walls surround the city in a semicircle, the cemetery, which constitutes Anatolia's best-preserved necropolis area, is located outside the walls.

In the "Ancient City of Kelenderis", which is located in the Aydıncık district and 77 nautical miles from Mersin Marina, structures such as the harbor, the harbor bath, and the harbor castle have survived to the present day. The famous sailor Pir-i Reis mentions this place as "Kilindra Kal'ası" in his book. The mosaics on the floor of the harbor bath, which is understood to be a large complex with its structure preserved until today, and which can be dated to the beginning of the sixth century, provide a source of visual information about the entire port.

Dana Island, which is in the Silifke district of Mersin and is 56 nautical miles from Mersin Marina, is the largest ancient shipyard in the Mediterranean. Dana Island, which played an important role in terms of trade in history, had shipboats, shipyards, and settlements connected to them. Approximately 300 boatyards were found during the excavations. As a result of the excavations, it is suggested that many ships were built in the boatyards and shipyard structures.

Mersin Marina in 2024 

As we bid farewell to 2024, let’s take a moment to recall what we achieved throughout the year. For Mersin Marina, 2024 was the beginning of a renovation process. We renewed the pedestals and fire cabinets for our maritime friends, while our living center’s flooring and land entrance were updated to enhance convenience. Our new rescue and firefighting boat, "Mersin Marina 5," was launched, and changes were initiated in the helipad area. In addition to our "Hello Summer" cocktail event, we were delighted to host various exhibitions, a photography competition, and many other activities in 2024. We are happy knowing that 2025 will bring even more cherished memories with you.

A Short Look at Mersin’s Yacht History

Underwater surveys conducted on the coasts of Mersin's Aydıncık, Gülnar, and Silifke districts revealed 18 shipwrecks that can be traced from the 7th century BC to the 11th century AD, indicating the use of the ancient harbors in the city during their period. These ships, sixteen of which were found loaded with amphorae and one with plates, also reflect the existence of international trade at the time.

In the 19. Century, the region gained even more importance as the Çukurova region became an economic center again. During this period, Mersin first became a port and then a vivid city with a productive hinterland. Together with the increase in commercial awareness, Mersin has reinforced both its city recognition and its status as a port city. Herewith, Mersin become an indispensable location for commercial and tourist routes. In addition to the port of Mersin, which is a cargo and passenger port, the city continues to provide services with marinas, including the Mersin Marina and reinforces its maritime culture every day together with its heritage from the past.