Change is ahead of us

Unerco CEO Ufuk Erinç made statements about his company's position in the sector and it's future plans. Erinc stated, "Our most important goal from now on will be the sustainable services where we will offer our customers alternative fuel options at more affordable prices. I would like to share the good news that in the very near future, we will become a fuel supply, transportation and refueling company whose activities are certified at all levels."

Graduated in 1994 from ITU Faculty of Maritime Studies, Department of Deck and then, in his own words, stepped into his "dream maritime profession", Unerco CEO Ufuk Erinç is a seafarer in love with the sea who says that he tried to improve his perspective by working in maritime companies to learn the maritime trade as well as through the ship internships he concluded during his summer vacations of his school years. He stated that after graduating from the university, he had the opportunity to work on almost every type of ship and his aim in doing so was to discover the differences and similarities in these ships.

Erinç stated that he started his career that would take him where he is today after completing the last part of his sea life as the 2nd Captain on Arkas Shipping container ships. "Feeder transportation and container line management had just started to emerge in the history of maritime, and I continued my career as an operations manager, which I started in the operations department alongside very valuable people. Afterwards, we started to trade the fuel purchases of the ships under our management, which was one of the duties of the same department, based on a system which prioritizes efficiency and analytical approach.

2020 was a harbinger of a world in transition

Speaking about the structure of Unerco, Erinç stated, "Unerco was founded by me and my former executive colleagues with whom I have been working for many years, my current partners and an international partner from Switzerland. The idea that we could act more differently and freely by sharing our knowledge with our customers and the sector in this field, where we have gained experience for many years, led to the birth of Unerco. 2020 was a harbinger not only in the maritime field, but also in our industry and in the changing world that we are witnessing today. We started to write this story to make decisions faster, to be on the ground and to realize our dreams. No matter how ready we were for the industrial change that was coming, it was not possible to take the pandemic into account. As you can appreciate, the unprecedented and abnormal operating conditions created by the pandemic pushed us out of our plans. However, challenges make you stronger, and they motivated a team like ours which was newly established but made up of experienced people. Unerco is made up of a very experienced team of people who have been involved in the entire maritime trade, from the school of seafaring to the ship, from the ship to the office. Today, we have a great team that we have been working with for many years, who are well versed in all aspects of the fuel business and we can identify ourselves in an important position in the Turkish transit marine fuels market with a considerable tonnage. As the founding partners, we are moving full speed ahead on our course both with the executive staff who have gained experience in different fields of maritime sector for many years and have the competencies to experience all aspects of the events, and with our executive friends who joined us later and have senior competencies."

Customer profile and locations

Providing information about Unerco's customer profile and the locations where it provides service, Erinç stated, "Unerco primarily responds to fuel demands in ports and anchorages within the borders of the Marmara region. In a period of 5 years, we have reached a size of approximately 30 thousand tons per month in terms of tonnage in our path that we are taking firm steps forward. In general, our customer profile consists of bunker traders and ship operators, ship owners and companies that own and operate their own ships."

Maximum quality

Commenting on the marine fuels sector, Erinç stated, "As you can appreciate, many changes await us in the coming years. Both IMO's 2050 targets and the fact that the Mediterranean is a SECA region require us to create more innovative and environment friendly products and services for our customers, and more importantly, to do so at acceptable cost levels. In line with the targets adopted by IMO, Unerco is ready to provide all kinds of advanced services to the Turkish owned fleets and international fleets who want to supply fuel to their ships in a refueling point like Turkiye, where the highest level of services can be obtained in marine refueling. Unerco is a company which primarily focuses on providing its customers with maximum quality and minimum operational time spent. However, as a result of the rapidly changing conditions and the rules put into effect, it continues it’s way as a strategic partner who contributes to fuel management rather than a company only provides fuel services."

Objectives

Explaining Unerco's goals for the near future, Erinç stated, "Our most important goal from now on will be to provide our customers with a sustainable service which through we will offer alternative fuel options at more affordable prices. Of course, handling a commodity, playing a role in it's trade, and at the same time connecting and fully controlling the links of the logistics chain is not only an inevitable result, but also a necessity for the sustainability. I would like to share the good news that in the very near future, we will become a fuel supply, transportation and bunkering company with each stage of it’s activities are certified. As you may be aware, I have been elected to the Board of Directors of IBIA, the International Association of Ship Refuelers. I would like to thank everyone who voted and nominated me, supported me and made me feel that they are with me. Today, IBIA is an organization that has an important place in IMO and where very important companies of the world are also members. I think it is an important representation in terms of both explaining ourselves and adapting to the rapidly changing rules. In the same way, it is one of my greatest wishes that the Turkish Ship Refuelers' Association keeps up with the rapid changes and regains its representation ability. Today, we feel the abnormal effects of the fuel quality in our ordinary life. Therefore, as I have said before, we have entered a period where you have to replace as much as you consume. Consume consciously and efficiently, let's continue our existence together will be our most important motto."

I am at IBIA to shape the future in the right direction

Erinç stated "My 35-year career in the maritime industry continues today in the board of directors of an important organization such as IBIA." He added, "In order to shape the future in the right direction, I became a candidate for the elections for the board of directors of IBIA, which is the platform where the most active role can be taken. We were elected with great favor. I see this as an opportunity not only for our company, but also for Türkiye. In all international platforms, we should represent our country at the management level and be within the decision-making authorities, and we should continue our work in line with our national interests.