Istanbul Celebrates 99th Anniversary of Maritime and Cabotage Day with Ceremonies

The event saw the participation of Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Durmuş Ünüvar, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Assembly Deputy Speaker Gökhan Gümüşdağ, Northern Sea Area Commander Rear Admiral Mustafa Kaya, Deputy Governor Şevket Atlı, Beşiktaş District Governor Oğuzhan Bingöl, Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Major General Yusuf Kenan Topcu, Provincial Police Chief Selami Yıldız, Coast Guard Marmara and Straits Regional Commander Rear Admiral Serkan Tezel, Istanbul Regional Port Authority Head Mustafa Kıran, Maritime Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Tamer Kıran, as well as various provincial and district protocols, and representatives from relevant institutions.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, vessels belonging to the General Directorate of Coastal Safety and the Coast Guard Command sprayed pressurized water in the Istanbul Strait.

Maritime Trade Dominates International Commerce, Says Deputy Minister

The celebrations commenced with a moment of silence and the singing of the Turkish National Anthem. Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Durmuş Ünüvar delivered a speech, emphasizing the significance of Cabotage Day.

"This achievement has formed a crucial cornerstone in the development of our maritime industry to its current state," Deputy Minister Ünüvar stated. "This law solidified the young Republic of Turkey's declaration of full independence with its sovereignty over its territorial waters. Today, production is vital. However, the logistics of raw materials required for production, and the value and sustainability of the logistics for manufactured goods, are at least as important as production itself. More than 80% of our international trade volume, and over 87% in our country, is transported by sea. You must also calculate the logistics cost of the value you produce. Countries are constantly pursuing new projects, routes, and corridors to reduce these costs."

"We proudly celebrate Maritime and Cabotage Day for 99 years"

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül also addressed the attendees, highlighting the deep meaning of July 1st. "For us, July 1st is not just a date," Governor Gül remarked. "It is also the day we gained absolute independence in our territorial waters and re-declared our sovereignty over our seas to the entire world. It is the day we nationalized trade in our 'Blue Homeland.' We have the honor of celebrating this day, which has made a great contribution to the development and progress of our maritime industry, as 'Maritime and Cabotage Day' for 99 years. Inspired by our great seafarer Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha's words, 'He who rules the seas, rules the world,' we produce our ships in modern shipyards and strengthen our power in the seas. We are resolutely advancing towards becoming a country that competes globally in all areas of maritime."

Cabotage Day Celebrated Enthusiastically

Tamer Kıran, Chairman of the Board of the Maritime Chamber of Commerce, stated, "Thanks to the Montreux Convention, Turkey has gained full control over the Turkish Straits and has become the guarantor of peace and stability in the Black Sea. Montreux has played a pioneering role in recent economic events, proving to be a vital document in international relations and preserving regional balance."

"Today, we celebrate the 99th anniversary of the acquisition of cabotage rights"

Rear Admiral Serkan Tezel, Coast Guard Marmara and Straits Regional Commander, also spoke, emphasizing the historical significance of the day. "Today, we celebrate the 99th anniversary of the acquisition of cabotage rights, one of the turning points in Turkish maritime history," Tezel said. "The struggle for power in the seas, which began with our ancestors' victory at Koyun Islands in the Aegean, reached its peak with Captain Pashas like Karamürsel Bey, Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha, Turgut Reis, Piyalepaşa, and Kılıç Ali Paşa, leading to the acceptance by all European states that the Mediterranean was a Turkish Lake."

Following the speeches, Governor Davut Gül and accompanying protocol members visited the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Tomb. Governor Gül signed the memorial book, and protocol members laid a wreath in the sea.