Founded in 2013, Beşiktaş Marine has quickly become one of Turkey's leading maritime companies. Offering a wide range of services, including ship purchases and sales, chartering, agency services, supply, spare parts, maintenance and repair, and safety equipment, the company is strengthening its presence not only in Turkey but also internationally with its operations in Romania. Beşiktaş Marine Founder Ateş Karaca spoke with us about Beşiktaş Marine's founding story, vision, and future goals. He explained Beşiktaş Marine's sustainability policies, digital efforts, and supply chain solutions.

Beşiktaş Marine holds a prominent position in the industry with its long-standing history. Before we begin our interview, we'd like to talk about Beşiktaş Marine's founding story. Could you tell us about Beşiktaş Marine's vision, mission, and the solutions it offers?

As Beşiktaş Marine, we entered the industry in 2013 with ship purchasing, chartering, and ship agency services. Later, as the company grew, we expanded our business and activities, and restructured in various areas. Our company, Ship Chandler Turkey, offers ship supply services. Our Ship Spare Part company specializes in ship spare parts.

Beşiktaş Marine Teknik focuses on repair, maintenance, and radio work. Beşiktaş Marine Safety provides firefighting and sea survival equipment services. Worldwide Ship Service stands out as our company specializing in ship agency activities. In January 2024, we established Romania Ship Service in Romania. Romania Ship Service also operates under the name Romania Ship Supply. Our work here continues in the Romanian branch, which is exactly the same as the activities we carry out in Turkey.

"We are accredited by all national and international classification societies."

Corporate sustainability has now become as much a strategic priority as financial growth. What are the key pillars of Beşiktaş Marine's sustainability strategy? What roadmap do you follow regarding carbon emissions, energy efficiency, or environmentally friendly operations?

In accordance with international maritime regulations, we are fully accredited by the classification societies affiliated with the IMO. For example, we hold accreditations from leading classification societies such as Bureau Veritas, DNV, RINA, and NK. These are highly respected and reliable organizations. Standards such as ISO, TS, and fire safety are, of course, essential for us. However, beyond this, we also hold accreditation from all member societies of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). Currently, we hold approximately 32 different accreditations.

"The foundation of our sustainable work is trust, business follow-up, our reporting method, and our transparent approach to financial management."

It is critical for Turkish companies to increase their brand value in the international maritime market. What is your vision for Beşiktaş Marine to become a domestic brand? What role do your international collaborations and reference projects play in this regard?

Ship buying and selling companies contacted us, especially during the COVID-19 period. They were unable to send their own engineers and supervisors here. We provided them with a solution. Since shipowners were unable to send their technical managers or inspectors to their ships, we provided technical management and inspector services on their behalf. During this process, we gained significant experience in managing the repair, maintenance, and shipyard operations. Essentially, we provided shipyard management services, acting as a "side team," taking over the management of the ship during the shipyard period. This process increased our capabilities, business skills, and capacity. Consequently, the trust placed in us by international companies has also strengthened. This trust is the underlying reason for the incoming requests. Imagine a shipowner putting a ship into a shipyard and making a substantial payment of $5-6 million. How this money is managed is crucial. A broker is needed to satisfy both the shipyard and the shipowner, establishing a realistic and fair balance between the two parties. Our role has been to protect the interests of both parties, based on trust. The receipt of these requests, the successful management of the projects, and their continuation after completion are invaluable to us. Our relationships haven't been severed after the first project; on the contrary, they've been sustained. Because we've never been driven by money. If we had been, a company operating hundreds of ships wouldn't have given us this responsibility, and the partnership would have ended after the first project. However, our bilateral dialogue, follow-up, reporting, and transparent approach to financial management have created satisfaction.

Ship maintenance, repair, and shipyard operations require technical expertise and precision. What technologies and methods do you use in Beşiktaş Marine's maintenance and repair processes? What solutions do you develop, particularly for modern ship types such as LNG, hybrid, and electric?

Hybrid technology is not yet a widely used or experienced field in Turkey. However, we have gained significant experience in this field by participating in new ship projects built by shipyards for Italy, Norway, and Denmark. The experience we gained, particularly during the outfitting phase, has given us significant expertise in hybrid and modern ship types. In Europe, and particularly in the Scandinavian countries, hybrid technology has become a key element of the transition to green energy. In these regions, the goal is to minimize electricity consumption, diesel, and fuel oil usage. The goal is for ships docking at ports to consume minimal energy and emit minimal exhaust emissions during shipyard periods. This reduces environmental impact and fosters a sustainable maritime culture. To this end, ballast water treatment systems, scrubber technologies that reduce exhaust emissions, and filtration solutions are being implemented. Furthermore, new regulations regulating electricity consumption are expected to be implemented in the near future.

"Thanks to the software we developed with our own capital, we can track purchasing, operations, field processes, and all subsequent stages."

Digitalization has become one of the most important factors increasing operational efficiency. To what extent have you implemented digitalization and automation applications in your shipyard operations? What are your IoT, artificial intelligence, or data analytics-based projects?

We don't yet use an AI-based system in the digital sense. However, our company does have some software developed with its own capital. Thanks to this software, we can track purchasing, operations, field processes, and all subsequent stages.

Regulations and classification rules are critical elements that determine operational standards. Beşiktaş Marine holds important certifications from organizations such as BIMCO, TURSSA, ISSA, and IMPA. What updates do you make to the technical requirements of organizations like IMO and IACS during the certification process? Specifically, what technical approach do you follow in complying with safety and environmental regulations?

IMO-affiliated organizations and IACS rules are updated monthly. These updates are carried out monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually. We receive relevant circulars and revisions monthly. Based on these updates, our company's Quality Management Department reviews the relevant regulations, adapts them, and integrates them into our company. Furthermore, organizations such as IMPA, ISSA, and TURSA certify that our supply processes comply with international standards. BIMCO, on the other hand, focuses on the legal aspect of the matter. In other words, it is an international authority that determines critical issues such as whether you stand behind your product in sales contracts and your commitments regarding returns. In Turkey, TURSA is the authority. TURSA membership paves the way for access to international organizations like ISSA and IMPA. In other words, after completing TURSA accreditation, you can transition to ISSA and IMPA memberships, and then, with support from BIMCO, your company is certified as a reliable organization that sells in accordance with international standards.

"Using product codes both reduces the error rate to zero and ensures ethical competition."

The supply of spare parts, equipment, and materials is crucial for operational continuity. How does supply chain management work on the Ship Chandler side of Beşiktaş Marine? What strategic partnerships and systems do you use to access parts and materials globally?

Our Ship Chandler Turkey operations are entirely based on ship stores and technical supplies. The standards here are based on the products in the IMPA catalog. We publish a digital catalog available to our customers on our website. Currently, 55,000 products are listed online. Customers submit requests to us by specifying product codes from this catalog. We call these requests RFQs (Requisition for Quotation). Once we receive an RFQ, the margin of error in our price quotes is virtually zero. This is because, with the code provided, the customer knows exactly which electrical material, medical product, or ration they are requesting. Therefore, using product codes both reduces the error rate to zero and ensures ethical competition.

55,000 products actually represent a pretty broad spectrum. What strategy do you follow when determining your collaborations, whether it's product selection or company selection?

The company's maritime roots are crucial for us. I myself have a maritime background, and our sales and marketing team consists of individuals with a maritime background. This allows them to accurately assess, based on their experience, which products should be used on board and which are suitable. To give a simple example, the bread a Russian ship requires is different from the bread an Arab ship requires. Similarly, the types of bread preferred by European, French, or Spanish ships vary. Having an experienced sales team is crucial to understanding these differences and offering the right product to the customer. Our sales and purchasing team accurately analyzes these differences and prices products tailored to each customer's needs.

“We provide our business partners not only with products but also with a comprehensive solution with the most suitable delivery point.”

What systems and processes do you use at Beşiktaş Marine in the ship spare parts sector? How do you ensure global inventory management, certified parts procurement, and logistics speed in emergencies? Furthermore, how do you balance OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and alternative parts supply?

 Our Ship Spare Parts company's operations focus entirely on ship spare parts. We specialize in generators, main engines, cooler units, lubrication systems, and refrigeration units. When we receive a request from our customers, we first examine the ship's itinerary to determine the delivery time. For example, if a ship is scheduled to call at the Suez Canal, Malta, or French ports, we offer the customer three port options. This approach allows us to determine the most cost-effective delivery time and delivery time from a customs and logistics perspective. We share the exact price, logistics, and delivery information specific to the port at which the customer wishes to receive the supply. Our difference here is that other companies typically only provide stock price (Xberg) or stock location information. We offer a real-time, comprehensive offer that includes not only stock availability but also logistics and delivery time. This way, we provide the customer not only with products but also with a comprehensive solution, including the most suitable delivery point. Particular attention is paid to the main engine and generator parts of ships. Spare parts are different from technical parts. For example, the absence of an injector can lead to increased fuel consumption on board, or even fuel leakage. This translates to significant additional costs and losses for the shipowner. Therefore, it is critical that these parts are procured and delivered to the ship as quickly as possible. We maintain a flexible balance between OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and alternative parts, tailored to customer needs. We prioritize certified OEM parts; however, when the customer demands competitive pricing and fast delivery, we can also offer alternative parts that meet quality standards.

“It is very important for the younger generation to know how the maritime industry works, its principles and how to behave within the framework of moral values.”

Companies with a long-term vision in the industry stand out in global competition. As we approach the end of 2025, what does the year look like for Beşiktaş Marine? What are your plans, goals, and expectations for the future?

The year 2025 will be challenging for both our country and the maritime sector. Amidst the climate created by the Ukraine-Russia War, ships entering the Black Sea region are subject to sanctions imposed by Europe, the US, and the UK, leading to a significant decline in shipping traffic. One of the biggest problems for ships traveling to this region is insurance. In the event of a potential damage, insurance companies are unable to cover the necessary expenses. Therefore, no shipowner wants to take the risk and is refraining from sending their ships to the Black Sea. As a result, the number of ships visiting the Black Sea region has decreased by approximately 50%. This decline has severe financial implications for the sector. Suppliers are unable to sell their products, fuel companies are unable to refuel, agencies are unable to provide service, and ship repair and maintenance companies are unable to continue their operations. In short, the market is experiencing an overall contraction of up to 50%.

Is there anything you would like to add lastly?

We are well-informed on developments in the maritime sector. As a company, we provide maritime training. We organize these trainings weekly, monthly, and quarterly. It's crucial for the younger generation to understand how the maritime industry operates, its principles, and how to act within the framework of ethical values. This training may not be sufficiently provided in schools. Therefore, we strive to convey etiquette, etiquette, rules, and experience to all our colleagues working, internships, or new members of the industry under the guise of "maritime precautions." Our goal is simply to share our knowledge and experience; we have no other intention.