Young sailors mark Cabotaga Day

ISTANBUL

Eighty-five sailboats set sail from Istanbul’s Anatolian side district of Kadıköy to mark Maritime and Cabotage Day on July 1.

“If we really want to govern our country independently, we have to keep the ownership of our seas, ports and territorial waters,” said Kadıköy Mayor Serdil Dara Odabaşı, referring to the Independence War led by the Republic of Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal and the enactment of the Cabotage Law on July 1, 1926.

Before that time, coastwise shipping was mainly carried out by foreign companies in the Turkish waters.

A part of the celebration, sailors, ages 8-14, received awards and placards from Odabaşı and Istanbul Sailing Club President Ahmet Saruhan.