IACS Holds 100th GPG Meeting in Istanbul

Hosted by the Turkish Lloyd Foundation, the event brought together leading representatives of the global maritime industry.

Attendance and Opening

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Durmuş Ünüvar, Director General of Maritime Affairs Ünal Baylan, Director General of Coastal Safety Mustafa Bankaoğlu, Chairman of the Board of the Istanbul and Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions Chamber of Shipping (IMEAK DTO) Tamer Kıran, along with other industry representatives. The event opened with welcome speeches by IACS Secretary General Robert Ashdown and Turkish Lloyd Foundation Chairman Prof. Dr. Oral Erdoğan.

Ashdown described the General Policy Group as the “driving force” of the association, highlighting its broad technical agenda covering areas from cybersecurity to environmental standards. Erdoğan emphasized Turkey’s deep-rooted maritime heritage, noting that beyond geography, the country connects ideas and technology. He underlined the importance of cooperation in transformation processes such as digitalization and carbon reduction, stressing that independence, impartiality, and transparency are fundamental to global maritime safety.

Strategic Vision and Sessions

Deputy Minister Durmuş Ünüvar highlighted IACS’s critical role in maritime safety, environmental protection, and harmonization of standards. He noted that IACS’s technical recommendations provide a reliable reference framework not only for classification societies but also for flag states and port authorities.

The first session, moderated by Dr. Ajay Asok Kumar, focused on IACS’s contributions to the global maritime industry. Kumar outlined the association’s overall role, Konstantin Petrov presented its contributions to IMO work, and Angeliki Zisimatou shared technical insights on the evolution of IACS UR E26 and E27 rules, which are pivotal in the digitalization process.

The second session, moderated by Robert Ashdown, discussed the role of classification societies within the changing regulatory framework. IMO Maritime Safety Division Director Damien Chevallier contributed via video message, while Erhan Esinduy (General Manager of Liberia Flag State in Turkey), Metin Düzgit (Vice President of ICS), Geir Jørgensen (Senior Vice President of the International Group of P&I Clubs), and Dirim Şener (Commercial Affairs Director of Delta Marine) each shared perspectives from their respective fields.

Closing

The technical program concluded with a thank-you speech by Turkish Lloyd IACS Council Member Lütfü Savaşkan. The event ended with a cocktail reception and gala dinner.