Finike: A marina the foundations of which were laid before Christ

The story of Setur Marinas Finike goes back much further than the beginning of marinership in the world. The ancient harbor, which was built before Christ, changed its shape and eventually turned into today's harbor and marina.

Eda Selçuk, Setur Marinas Finike Front Office Representative

Finike (Phoinikos) was an important port city in the region of Anatolia called Lycia in ancient times. The first place where the city was founded is İskele Neighborhood. The port of Finike, which has survived to the present day, is at the place where Acıçay, a channel and a stream with high flow rate but low speed, flows into the sea, passing through this first settlement that has existed since ancient times. For centuries, this stream and its mouth offered many communities the opportunity to load and unload cargo and served as a harbor.

There were periods in history when this important harbor fell out of favor and was forgotten. However, the increase in orange production in the city in the 1910s led to the establishment of a wooden pier without a breakwater in 1927. Cargo ships docked at this wooden pier used to transport oranges between Finike and Istanbul in crates made of mulberry or fig trees, and the journey would take 7 to 10 days. When the barge was caught in the lodgepole, the captain would send a telegram from Çanakkale to inform about the goods being transported. The telegram would usually read the following message: "The goods rotted on deck. Good luck to those in the cellar!"

When the wooden pier became insufficient, in 1942, a concrete pier was built in the same place, this time on iron legs. High-tonnage cargo ships docked at this concrete pier and the fertilizer in the warehouses was loaded onto trucks that went up to the pier and transported into the city. For example, the mine poles used in the opening of the Zonguldak mines were made from trees cut from the Bey Mountains and transported from the port of Finike.

One day, the concrete pier, where high tonnage cargo ships docked, became insufficient. In 1956, the first foundations of the modern Finike port were laid by the General Directorate of Railways, Ports and Airports Construction (DLH) under the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement. First, the structure of the large concrete pier was reinforced, then the sea was filled and the main breakwater and secondary breakwater were built. This work was completed in 1970 with the addition of a dock to allow fishing boats to dock.

While the port was a place where cargo ships docked and fishing boats took shelter in stormy weather, it gradually became a frequent destination for foreign yachtsmen. The name of the harbor is written as "Finike Pier and Fisherman's Harbor" in the first building where the fishermen and yachtsmen spend their time. Until 1985, the port, which was operated by the General Directorate of Turkish Maritime Enterprises (TÜDEK), was transferred to Finike Municipality.

In 1992, a new construction was started by DHL to make the harbor a destination for foreign yachts and to meet their needs. The main and auxiliary breakwaters were extended and the entrance to the harbor was further narrowed due to the reduced depth of the harbor interior because of the currents. In order to create a land parking area, the sea was filled in from the large concrete jetty and the area in between was connected to the secondary breakwater. The sea was also filled in for the part where the marina office and the porthole are located today. All these works were completed in 1997 and on that date Setur Marinas acquired the 25-year operating rights and started to operate the harbor as a marina.

With the renovations made over time, the marina has been transformed into a living center called "liveaboard" where yachtsmen both stay and live, spending 365 days a year on their boats. The 72-ton travel lift, which was put into service in February 1998, meets an important need in the region for winterization and dry docking services. The towing and maintenance needs of mostly foreign flagged private yachts, commercial boats engaged in touristic activities in the region and large tonnage fishing boats are met here. In 2000, the construction of other superstructure units began and in 2002 the marina took its present form.

Today, there are three large piers for boats up to 37 meters in length, three docks, Setur Finike Marina with an offshore parking area for 300 boats and a land parking area for 100 boats, as well as the Port Authority, Customs Office and Passport Control Center. In addition to commercial shops offering many yacht services, there is a fishing harbor, Coast Guard Command and an Opet station on the secondary breakwater to meet the refueling needs. This secondary breakwater has been transformed into a promenade for walking by Finike Municipality. Maritime Day (also known as Cabotage Day) has been celebrated with different activities in Finike port since July 1, 1926.

Finike harbor has been a sheltered home for all sea lovers since ancient times.