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STS BODRUM SCHOOL SHIP AWARDED BLUE FLAG

23.06.2023

STS (Sail Training Ship) Bodrum, the first sailing school ship in the history of the Republic, has been awarded the "Blue Flag" by fulfilling 5 criteria and 17 behavioral rules.

Built in 2001 with the significant contributions of the people of Bodrum under the leadership of Bodrum and Carian Culture, Art and Promotion Foundation (BOSAV), and since 2010 operated under the administration of Bodrum Municipality, the STS Bodrum Ship is 36 meters long and provides maritime education to young people in Bodrum. The application for the Blue Flag for the STS Bodrum Ship has been successful, and the ship has been granted the "Blue Flag" due to its compliance with the criteria. STS Bodrum has become the first Turkish educational ship to receive the Blue Flag.

A Blue Flag ceremony was held today on the STS Bodrum School Ship in front of the Bodrum Sailors Association. The ceremony was attended by Tayfun Yılmaz, the Deputy Mayor of Bodrum, Municipal Council Members; the designer and builder of the boat, Yücel Köyağasıoğlu; TÜRÇEV Regional Coordinator Gürcan Kaya; Levent Öncel, the GM OF the Municipality Inc.; President of the Bodrum Sailors Association Erol Erdoğan, Chairman of The Bodrum Cup Organization Committee Süleyman Uysal, and municipal department directors.

Prior to the hoisting of the Blue Flag, opening speeches were given at the ceremony organized by the Directorate of Support Services. After the moment of silence and the national anthem, Yücel Köyağasıoğlu expressed his happiness in building such a ship and stated that he was proud and excited that STS Bodrum received the Blue Flag. Köyağasıoğlu thanked everyone who contributed to the STS Bodrum Ship receiving the Blue Flag.

Deputy Mayor Yılmaz mentioned that the STS Bodrum School Ship provides education to thousands of young sailors from Bodrum and makes a difference in various activities that preserve Bodrum's cultural heritage. He stated the following:

"The Turkish Environmental Education Foundation is authorized to grant Blue Flags to beaches and maritime vessels that meet certain international standards. Under the leadership of our Mayor Ahmet Aras, our Support Services Office, together with the Turkish Environmental Education Foundation, has been working for about a year to obtain the Blue Flag for our STS School Ship. At the beginning of the season, we proudly announce that our school ship has become the first educational ship in Turkey to receive the Blue Flag. It has fulfilled 22 criteria for yachts and boats to earn this certificate. I would like to express my gratitude to all my colleagues, especially Yücel Köyağasıoğlu, and the Turkish Environmental Education Foundation."

The Blue Flag for yachts is an environmental award given for one year to yachts that meet the designated criteria for environmental management, environmental education and information, safety, and services. The Blue Flag program for yachts is coordinated by the International Environmental Education Foundation and implemented by the Turkish Environmental Education Foundation in Türkiye.