Turkey and Greece Join Forces in Shipbuilding
Commercial relations between Turkey and Greece are gaining historic momentum, particularly in the maritime and shipbuilding sectors. Rising import and export figures have made Turkish shipyards indispensable partners for Greek shipowners.
Blue Diplomacy and Economic Convergence
According to reports in the Greek media, economic relations between the two countries have entered a new dimension under the framework of “blue diplomacy.” A recent market study published by the Economic and Trade Office of the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul highlights a remarkable increase in shipbuilding, maintenance-repair, and marine sub-industry trade.
Record Growth in Tugboat Imports
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In 2023, Greece’s imports from Turkey in the shipbuilding sector amounted to €38.34 million, while in the first 10 months of 2024 this figure reached €44.25 million.
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A major leap occurred in the tugboat and pusher vessel category: imports rose from €11.2 million in 2023 to €42.63 million by October 2024.
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During the same period, Greece’s exports to Turkey in the maritime sector also increased to €32.30 million, showing balanced growth.
New Orders and Strategic Agreements
The climate of trust between the two countries is translating into concrete projects:
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Med Marine & Igmar: Ereğli-based Med Marine has signed an agreement with Igmar, part of the Spanopoulos Group, for the construction of a multi-purpose tugboat.
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Vernicos Scafi & Salvage Maritime: A new Greek-flagged tugboat built in Turkish shipyards is scheduled for delivery in March 2025.
As of March 2023, Greece ranked third—after China and Japan—on Turkey’s new ship order book.
Global Strength of Turkish Shipyards and the Green Transition
Turkey, with major shipyards such as SEDEF, GEMAK, HAT-SAN, ALTINOVA, İÇDAŞ, NUR, and TERSAN, has an annual production capacity of 250,000 DWT. Brands like Beşiktaş Shipyard also stand out globally in maintenance and repair.
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Green Technology: Development of eco-friendly engines meeting IMO Tier III standards, LNG/Diesel dual-fuel systems, and methanol propulsion solutions.
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Electric Tugboats: Fully electric, shore-chargeable tugboats produced in Tuzla symbolize the sector’s digital transformation.
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Leadership in Ship Recycling: As of 2022, Turkey ranked third worldwide in ship recycling.
A New Vision for the Eastern Mediterranean: The Blue Economy
According to the Turkish Shipowners’ Association’s 2024/2025 report, as of January 2025 the Turkish-owned merchant fleet reached a capacity of 51.9 million DWT. Experts predict that the combination of Turkey’s technical production power and Greece’s shipowning expertise will transform the Eastern Mediterranean into a global maritime hub.
With the green transition underway, joint investments and sustainable growth opportunities for the shipyards of both countries are expected to increase.
