First Ferry Docks at Latakia
A passenger ship named "Cedar Waves" arrived at the port of Latakia on Monday evening, 22 June 2026, sailing in from the Lebanese port of Jounieh. The crossing was the first scheduled passenger voyage between Syria and Lebanon after several years in which the sea link had been suspended.
The tourism minister attended the reception at the port. Officials present framed the arrival as a possible starting point for wider passenger and tourism movement between the two countries and the surrounding region.
A Regional Route Takes Shape
The vessel runs from Jounieh to Latakia before continuing to the Turkish city of Mersin. Operators said the line is expected to extend further to connect Jounieh, Latakia, Mersin and Larnaca in Cyprus, giving the Latakia terminal a larger role as an eastern Mediterranean transit point.
The ship can carry about 350 passengers, and its first sailing brought travelers of several nationalities.
Two to Three Sailings a Week
Service is set to run at two to three voyages per week, with plans to expand through cooperation with travel and tourism offices. Officials said the number of trips is likely to rise in the coming period as demand for sea travel grows alongside the start of the tourist season.
The ports and customs authority said it provided facilities to speed passenger entry and processing on arrival.
A Marker for the Tourism Sector
Officials described the resumption as a sign of recovery in the tourism sector, adding that the relevant bodies had worked with the tourism ministry to arrange the facilities needed to operate the line. They pointed to its role in easing movement among countries along the eastern Mediterranean.
"Resuming this line reflects indicators of recovery in the tourism sector," one official said of the new service.