Turkey, Northern Cyprus launch AI‑enabled Mediterranean ship‑traffic system

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu inaugurated the East Mediterranean Ship Traffic Services System (Doğu Akdeniz Gemi Trafik Hizmetleri Sistemi) in Gazimağusa, Northern Cyprus. The project, carried out by the Ministry of Transport together with defence contractor HAVELSAN, combines radars, electronic sensors, communication links and on‑site towers into a domestically developed software platform.

The AI‑enhanced system can automatically identify vessels, track their movements and flag illegal activities such as human trafficking and smuggling. HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar said the solution has a higher localisation rate than previous Turkish Bosphorus traffic systems and will become the "eye" of both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the "Mavi Vatan". Uraloğlu stated, "Proje ile Mavi Vatan'ımızda çıkarlarımızı koruyacak, KKTC çevresi ile ülkemiz arasındaki deniz alanında gemi trafiğini kesintisiz izleyebileceğiz," underscoring the aim of continuous sovereign monitoring of maritime traffic between the two sides.