In a case reflected in the Haifa Court in Israel, it has been claimed that after Turkey's decision to halt trade with Israel, some cargoes were transported to Israel via Egypt and Cyprus. The open AIS records of the vessel named Lider Haluk mentioned in the case highlighted the trace to Famagusta in the Cyprus leg.

Today, open-source data obtained from Cyprus indicates that Lider Haluk has been using the İskenderun-Famagusta-Haifa route; however, the exchange of documents and the potential commercial organization related to the Cyprus leg has not yet been clarified with official records. Current AIS sources show the vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean/Hayfa area.

AFTER CYPRUS, AIS RECORD SHOWED FAMAGUSTA The claim that some cargoes were delivered to Israel through third ports following Turkey's decision to halt trade with Israel has resurfaced with a commercial case seen in Haifa.

According to a report by the Arabic news site Elaph, based on Israeli media, it was alleged in the court documents that some vessels departing from Turkish ports did not go directly to Israel; instead, they first stopped in Egypt or Cyprus before proceeding to Haifa Port.

While the term 'Cyprus' is used in the documents, the specific port being referred to is not clearly stated. However, the open AIS records belonging to the vessel Lider Haluk indicate that after departing from İskenderun, the vessel called at Famagusta Port and then proceeded to Haifa.

İSKENDERUN-FAMAGUSTA-HAIFA ROUTE In the maritime tracking records of Maritime Optima, the route chain of Lider Haluk appears as İskenderun-Famagusta-Haifa. According to the records, the vessel entered İskenderun Port on March 25, departed from İskenderun on April 2, called at Famagusta Port on April 3, and reached Haifa Port on April 4.

This record strengthened the northern connection regarding the expression 'Cyprus stopover' mentioned in the Haifa case. However, it has not yet been confirmed by official port and customs records whether the certificates of origin were exchanged in Famagusta or through which agency the transactions were conducted.

CLAIM OF 'EGYPT AND CYPRUS' IN COURT FILE According to court news in the Israeli press, the case came to light through a debt lawsuit filed by a company named Dynamic Shipping Services against the owners of the vessel Lider Haluk.

The company claimed that it made payments for items such as port fees, operational services, fuel, and anchorage costs on behalf of the vessel and asserted that it had a receivable of approximately 2.2 million shekels.

The owners of the vessel argued that Dynamic Shipping Services did not act merely as a ship agency but was part of the commercial structure facilitating the transportation of cargo from Turkey to Israel.

The documents included the claim that cargoes departing from Turkey did not go directly to Israel but were delivered to Haifa through stopovers in Egypt or Cyprus.

COMPANY IN ESTONIA, INDIRECT ROUTE Statements reflected in the court file alleged that due to direct trade restrictions between Turkey and Israel, a company registered in Estonia named Admartrade was used.

It was reported that the Turkish businessman Haldun Gedizesner explained the use of the company in Estonia as a response to the 'direct trade restrictions between Turkey and Israel.'

According to the same narrative, the vessel did not go directly from Turkey to Israel; it first called at ports in Egypt or Cyprus and then proceeded to Haifa Port. It was claimed that after unloading its cargo in Haifa, the vessel returned empty to Turkey.

WHICH COMPANIES ARE BEHIND THE VESSEL? In open-source vessel databases, Lider Haluk is registered under Sakarya Shipping Co., with ISM manager and commercial manager listed as Samsun Shipping Ltd.

In the Turkish maritime press, the vessel is identified as Lider Haluk, which operates within the Lider Line fleet under Samsun-based Samsun Shipping. In the fleet information of Lider Shipping/Lider Line, Lider Haluk is also listed among the company's Ro-Ro vessels.

It is seen in open sources that Lider Line and the Lider Shipping line are connected to the Lider Group, owned by the Bulut Family from Trabzon, and the sister company Bulut Shipyard ecosystem. In promotional texts of Bulut Shipyard, it is mentioned that the shipyard also undertakes the maintenance and repair of vessels belonging to its sister company Lider Ship Management.

VESSEL STILL APPEARS AROUND HAIFA In vessel tracking sources like VesselFinder, Lider Haluk is listed as a Ro-Ro cargo ship with IMO number 8404276. Current AIS records indicate that the vessel is visible in the Eastern Mediterranean/Hayfa area.

This information does not contradict reports that the court decided to release the vessel. Because the release of a vessel does not necessarily mean it has left the port or anchorage immediately.

CRITICAL RECORDS IN FAMAGUSTA While the 'Cyprus' stopover is mentioned in the Haifa case, the open AIS records showing Famagusta have made the northern Cyprus connection a primary line of inquiry.

However, to confirm the incident, it is necessary to examine the entry-exit records of Famagusta Port, agency information serving the vessel, cargo manifests, proforma invoices, certificates of origin, port service invoices, and customs records.

Today, the open-source data obtained from Cyprus reveals that Lider Haluk passed from İskenderun to Famagusta and then to Haifa. However, it has not yet been clarified through official records where and by whom the document exchange took place, and which company or agency played a role in the Cyprus leg.

Source: BizimKıbrıs

Source: SeaNews Türkiye