We will move forward even further with joint projects and initiatives.

In these days, as we begin a new century for Turkey, İMEAK DTO Chairman Tamer Kıran stated, “Our absolute goals should be to double the contribution of maritime to the national income, gain a larger share of global maritime, initially rank among the top 10 leading countries, and eventually own a fleet of 100 million DWT. We must continue investing in technological advancements in shipbuilding, fleet management, and port services. In short, we will continue to work together with our country and nation to become a ‘Maritime Nation, Maritime Country’.” We have brought his words to our pages. We also asked him to evaluate his 7 years in office, along with technology, wars, education, competition, and of course, the future of the Turkish maritime sector.

As the President of the Chamber of Shipping, how do you assess the strengths, competitive aspects, and vulnerable areas of the Turkish maritime sector?

Our maritime sector has made good use of the stable environment Turkey achieved at the beginning of the 2000s, reaching truly impressive successes, establishing a presence in the international arena, and rising to a respected position among decision-making countries. As we enter 2025, Turkish maritime ranks 11th in the world’s largest fleets, with a carrying capacity of 52 million DWT. Additionally, due to Turkey's strategic location between Asia and Europe, the amount of cargo handled at its ports continues to show a steady increase, maintaining its role as a significant hub in maritime transport. As of the first quarter of 2024, we have 85 active shipyards and a maximum shipbuilding capacity of 4.79 million DWT. Our shipbuilding and yacht exports are nearing two billion dollars. Our shipyards are excelling in the construction of hybrid/electric ferries, fishing vessels, and advanced technology military naval vessels in the global market. We can see firsthand how we’ve achieved success based on our local technical strength, particularly in the MİLGEM projects.

We are proud of the progress Turkish maritime has made in recent years, but we also emphasize that we still have a long way to go. The most important issue ahead of us, especially as of 2022-2023, will be the regulatory measures for the decarbonization of the maritime sector, both by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU). While the Turkish maritime sector supports IMO’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, we must also highlight that the path toward achieving net zero emissions around 2050 will be quite challenging.

We also know that the European Union has implemented the Emission Trading System (ETS), including maritime, and that the FuelEU Maritime regulations will collect emission fees from global shipping fleets to support the green transition of the EU maritime sector. From this, it is clear that Turkey must establish its own emission trading system as a necessary measure against this unilateral competitive disruption. Moreover, to advance the Turkish maritime sector and increase our competitiveness in the global market, one of the first steps we need to take is to adopt innovative technologies and invest more in research and development activities. Additionally, increasing qualified labor and expanding training and continuous professional development programs are crucial. Finally, it is extremely important for all stakeholders in the Turkish maritime industry to act around a common vision, particularly for the public and private sectors to work together. Through joint projects and initiatives, we can take steps to move the Turkish maritime sector forward.

How do you think the Turkish maritime sector has changed and developed in light of recent socio-political developments and global economic shifts?

Recently, the world has been going through a comprehensive and dizzying period of change and transformation, with political, military, and economic tensions reaching their peak, resulting in conflicts and wars. Unfortunately, many of the wars affecting the world are taking place in our nearby geography. We can count the Russia-Ukraine war, which is approaching its third year, Israel's attacks starting in Gaza and then spreading to other regional countries, the collapse of the 61-year-old Baath regime in our southern neighbor after years of internal conflicts, and the ensuing political uncertainty as regional and global instability factors. Adding to these issues, the upcoming Trump era starting from January 20 in one of the world’s most important players, the United States, it would not be wrong to say that we are facing a 2025 that will feature geopolitical tensions, protectionist measures restricting international trade and investments, and technology wars.

All these negative developments in our close vicinity have naturally affected our maritime trade, shipbuilding industry, and cruise tourism negatively. Before the Russia-Ukraine war, both countries were among Turkey’s top trading partners. With the war, there were significant disruptions in energy, agricultural product trade, and tourism, and considerable efforts were made to resolve these issues. Additionally, the situation in Syria is something we will need to closely monitor in the coming days. From our sector's perspective, Syria has two very important ports on the Mediterranean, one in Tartus and the other in Latakia. Due to both the sanctions on Syria and the policies of the previous regime, these ports have not been very active until now. However, with the lifting of sanctions, we might see different developments and new formations in the future. Considering the investments Syria will need after years of civil war, these ports will likely gain more importance. This could become a transit corridor extending toward Iraq. Therefore, we need to keep a close watch on this situation. Meanwhile, we also have significant cargo movements in the İskenderun Gulf and Mersin, and we should be careful to ensure that these movements do not shift to other areas. Ultimately, our biggest wish is for the negative developments in our nearby region to end as soon as possible and for peace and stability to return to the region.

The rapid technological changes and increasing digitalization that are sweeping the world have undoubtedly also impacted the maritime sector. Could you assess the digitalization process of the Turkish maritime industry and its ability to adapt to this change? Additionally, we would like to learn about the initiatives your Chamber has undertaken in this regard.

Looking at the historical process of maritime, we can see that it was one of the first fields where change and transformation were applied. Until the mid-1800s, maritime transportation was powered by sails and human force. With the invention of the steam engine and its use in ships, followed by the replacement of steam engines with diesel engines, the construction of new ship types such as bulk carriers with cranes, Ro-Ro ships, and container vessels, maritime transportation gradually evolved to become the driving force behind global trade.

In the process of digitalization in maritime, we see the introduction of electronic charts (ECDIS), Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), the digitalization of port management, and automation applications. The Container Terminal Management System (CTMS) was one of the first digital systems implemented in the industry.

Between 2000 and 2010, with the development of artificial intelligence technologies, data analytics and operational efficiency examples began to emerge, including route optimization. During this period, we also saw the use of simulators, GPS and satellite communications, ERP systems, and artificial intelligence applications in sustainability. In the 2010-2020 period, we started to see the results of deep learning in artificial intelligence, with applications in fuel efficiency, performance monitoring systems, autonomous ships, smart navigation systems, maritime safety, port operations, cybersecurity, and the heavy use of blockchain technologies.

As a result, the maritime profession, one of the world’s oldest professions, continues to adapt to the digital transformation and digitalization environment brought about by Industry 4.0 applications, also known as the new industrial revolution, and continues to transport the world’s cargo by sea, maintaining its role as the locomotive of global transportation.

As the Chamber of Shipping, we are aware of the importance of being part of the digital revolution in line with our country's interests, which aims to be among the top players in the global economy and maritime industry. In this regard, we regularly communicate with our members to keep track of developments in digital transformation and continue our efforts to provide the necessary information support for the sector. In this context, on December 17, 2024, our Chamber organized a “Seminar on Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Applications in Maritime,” where we discussed the digitalization process and AI applications in our country, digital transformation support programs for industrialists, and examples of digitalization in maritime trade and the maritime industry.

Moreover, our education system must also change in line with the requirements of digital transformation. Our seafarers now need to specialize not only in navigation but also in data management, digital communication, artificial intelligence, and virtual and augmented reality. I am pleased to say that our maritime sector’s pride, Piri Reis University, is taking a leading role in this transformation.

Training qualified human resources in the maritime sector is critically important for the sustainability of the industry. Does the Chamber of Shipping’s Education Commission have any ongoing projects in this area?

As I have mentioned on every platform, supporting maritime education is one of our most important duties as a Chamber. For this reason, we allocate a significant portion of our budget each year to educational activities. As you know, the maritime sector's most important need is qualified personnel and human resources, which are provided by maritime vocational high schools, maritime vocational colleges, and maritime faculties. The training provided in this field is being restructured in line with international maritime standards, in collaboration with the industry, to meet the need for qualified labor in the sector. Our Chamber also plays a key role in supporting the vocational and technical training activities required to train this workforce.

In this context, the members of our Board of Directors and our Chamber’s Education and Employment Commission visit maritime training schools across the country. These visits allow us to evaluate the needs, priorities, and expectations of the maritime sector, as well as the opinions and requests of the school administrators. During these visits, we also identify and address the equipment and hardware needs and deficiencies in compulsory training areas. One of the findings we’ve observed is that maritime vocational high school students do not transition sufficiently to higher education related to their field after graduation. During our visits, we provide information to encourage students to pursue the profession.

Another significant issue has been the shortage of maritime academicians at maritime faculties and vocational colleges. In this regard, our Chamber supports maritime academicians who wish to pursue master’s and doctoral programs either domestically or abroad.

In the September 2024 General Assembly meeting, it was decided to increase the shareholding in Zeyport Port. Has the share transfer been completed? How will the increase in the Chamber’s current share contribute to the Chamber? Furthermore, you mentioned that, in collaboration with the Istanbul Governorship, the Yenikapı Jetty would be jointly operated by the Chamber and the Investment Monitoring and Coordination Presidency. What progress has been made on this project?

Since we assumed office in 2018, one of our top priorities has been to develop and advance the Chamber of Shipping. We know very well that a strong Chamber plays a vital role in solving the issues of our maritime sector. Every year, we continue our member-focused service approach by preparing transparent and understandable budgets to safeguard and protect the sector's economic interests and the public good. As a result, we have consistently exceeded our revenue forecasts while making noticeable savings in current expenses.

In the past, when some of our partners in the port expressed their intention to sell their shares, we evaluated the situation and concluded that purchasing these shares would be beneficial and productive for both our Chamber and our members who use the services. Currently, we continue to operate with a total shareholding of 65%, including the 7% share owned by the Turkish Maritime Education Foundation (TÜDEV).

Additionally, we have taken a significant step towards addressing one of the major issues in our sector, the "housing and mooring needs." In this regard, we are implementing an important project in collaboration with the Istanbul Governorship. The land transfer for the Yenikapı Jetty was completed in January, and we are now making the necessary investments. Soon, we will begin allowing our members providing maritime services in Istanbul to use this space. This partnership between the Istanbul Governorship and our Chamber, a professional organization with public institution status, marks the beginning of an excellent cooperation, and we hope it will lead to new opportunities in the future.

You have been serving as the President of the Chamber of Shipping for 7 years. How would you assess the contributions and impact of the transformation process you and your team have created on the sector and the Chamber during this time? What is your message to the Turkish maritime sector? Can you share your hopes for the sector’s future, goals, and potential successes?

I began my service in the Chamber of Shipping in 1999 as an Alternate Member of the Board of Directors. After being elected as a Full Member of the Board in 2005, I have continued my journey as the Chairman of the Chamber since April 2018, thanks to the trust of our esteemed members. During my tenure, we have faced many challenges, including the pandemic, and worked diligently together. Even during lockdowns, we communicated the problems and solutions from our members to the relevant institutions and organizations, following up on them. But we never stopped, we never grew weary. Our aim was always to reach higher and better. Together, we pursued the goal of elevating our sector to the level it truly deserves. Our entire purpose was to alleviate the concerns of our members while creating opportunities that would generate work and provide prosperity, thus contributing more to our country’s welfare.

Looking back, I am truly grateful and at peace, knowing that I have had a successful term full of accomplishments. At this point, I feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction knowing that the efforts we put in have been highly appreciated by our valuable members. Over the past seven years, we have kept our promise to be "both accessible and approachable." Of course, we couldn’t solve every issue, but we worked tirelessly to find solutions. In the coming period, we are determined to continue addressing the unresolved issues, communicating the problems and demands of our members to the relevant institutions and organizations, and working hard to bring about solutions.

As we enter a new century for Turkey, we must set ambitious goals: to increase the contribution of maritime to our national income at least twofold, to take a larger share of global shipping, and to position ourselves among the top 10 maritime nations in the world. Additionally, we aim to have a fleet of 100 million DWT and to continue investing in technological advancements in areas such as shipbuilding, fleet management, and port services. In short, together with our country and people, we will continue to work toward becoming a "Maritime Nation, Maritime Country."