ES DENİZCİLİK CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD EROL DEMIRBAS

I was born in 1977 in Trabzon. After graduating from Karadeniz Technical University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1999, I immediately entered the workforce by founding ES Architecture and Engineering. Shortly after, I established ES Denizcilik. Since 2002, I have been actively serving as the Chairman of the Board of ES Denizcilik.

Can you provide information about ES DENİZCİLİK?

At ES Denizcilik, we operate primarily in the field of quality contracting work, focusing on marine structures and industrial facility construction. We possess Turkiye's largest and most advanced marine construction fleet, comprising over 20 specialized vessels and equipment. With over 1000 employees  and more than 25 years of experience in the industry, we continue our operations without slowing down. Our skilled workforce completes our projects without Lost Time Injury (LTI) and has received awards for our performance. We undertake specialized projects that require expert engineering knowledge, including seabed dredging, marine structures, and industrial facility construction. By continually strengthening our marine fleet, we have increased our hourly dredging capacity to 1,000 m³. Over the past decade, we have played a significant role in the development and growth of the Aliaga peninsula through the construction projects we have carried out at the refineries in that region, effectively changing the peninsula's geography. We are fully committed to continuing our large-scale industrial projects and marine construction initiatives targeting the petrochemical and iron-steel sectors. We support the development of our country's economy and enhance the trade volume of our ports through our port capacity expansion projects. 

You produce “niche” / specialized projects in the construction sector. Could you tell us about your projects?

We specialize in constructing unique, "niche" projects within the construction sector, executing work that very few contractors in our industry can manage. We take pride in this capability. In every project we undertake, we work on a turnkey basis. We can also operate as an EPC contractor. We manage the entire process from design to product/material procurement and facility operation in each project we construct.

You will be present at the EUROPORT ISTANBUL'24 fair. What sets you apart from other maritime companies? What are your thoughts and expectations regarding the fair?

Europort Istanbul is opening its doors in Istanbul for the first time in nine years. We are very excited to participate in this fair. It will be an international event uniting the entire maritime community. At the fair, we aim to showcase our innovative solutions in marine construction and our technologically advanced fleet. We hope to raise awareness about our developed fleet and specialized projects in both national and international arenas, exchange knowledge with other firms in the sector, develop new collaborations, and enhance our brand recognition.

Let’s talk about ships. You have a fleet of over 20 vessels and equipment, and these are specialized ships that elevate your position in the sector. Could you elaborate on this?

Our fleet is the largest and most advanced marine construction fleet in Turkiye. We import them from abroad. Our fleet consists of over 20 vessels with various capabilities, including floating cranes, pile driving vessels, and dredgers. Our pile driving vessel, Demirbas 06, is one of the largest and most modern pile driving barges in Turkiye, featuring a 54-meter mast height and the largest (Delmag 180) hammer available. Another vessel, Kanuni D.S, has an excavator capacity of 190 tons and can dredge at depths of 21 meters.

Can we learn about your goals for 2025? Will there be new investments?

We have new investments planned for 2025. We will continue to expand our fleet, adding two more dredger vessels. Additionally, we have budgeted for an investment in a "Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger" to enhance our dredging speed in soft to semi-firm soils and reduce unit costs. This vessel will be one of those used for land reclamation projects and the creation of artificial islands. We will continue to invest in machinery and equipment that add value to our industrial and marine construction projects and raise awareness in the industry.