The maritime sector, which strengthens Turkey's position in global trade, has been going through an unprecedented change process in recent years due to both geopolitical developments and green transformation goals. In this process, the applicability of alternative fuels, compliance with regulations, technological innovations and human resources stand out as critical topics. We talked with Tamer Kiran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMEAK Chamber of Shipping, about how the Turkish maritime sector is affected by global developments, the steps to be taken within the scope of green transformation, the place of our shipyards and ports in the world Sunday and the future role of young sailors.We talked with Tamer Kiran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMEAK Chamber of Shipping, about how the Turkish maritime sector is affected by global developments, the steps to be taken within the scope of green transformation, the place of our shipyards and ports in the world Sunday and the future role of young sailors.
The maritime sector is one of the most critical carrier elements of global trade and is directly affected by all developments in the world economy. In this context, how have the global political, economic and environmental developments in recent years affected the maritime sector?
The maritime sector is one of the main elements of the global economy and trade and is directly affected by all events affecting them. Many global political, economic and social developments in recent years have also led to significant changes in the maritime sector. is one of the main elements of the global economy and trade and is directly affected by all events affecting them. Many global political, economic and social developments in recent years have also led to significant changes in the maritime sector.
The maritime sector today is facing unprecedented challenges shaped by dizzying changes on the one hand and increasing geopolitical instabilities on the other. The Russia-Ukraine War, endless conflicts in the Middle East, civil wars and instability, attacks on maritime trade routes, natural disasters such as the drought in the Panama Canal cause serious disruptions in maritime trade and, as a result, transport distances are lengthening, costs are increasing and the expected stability cannot be achieved.Russia-Ukraine War, endless conflicts in the Middle East, civil wars and instability, attacks on maritime trade routes, natural disasters such as the drought in the Panama Canal cause serious disruptions in maritime trade and, as a result, transport distances are lengthening, costs are increasing and the expected stability cannot be achieved. Especially as a result of global economic crises, due to economic recessions, decreases in transportation demand and serious fluctuations in freight markets affect our sector deeply.
"The viability of alternative fuels, regulatory barriers and technological shortcomings create uncertainty in the sector”
Global carbon emission targets are creating serious cost and transformation pressures for the sector. What are the challenges for compliance with IMO's 2030 and 2050 carbon emission targets?
We need to say that there is a lot of uncertainty about decarbonizing maritime transportation.We need to say that there is a lot of uncertainty about decarbonizing maritime transportation. Firstly, the targeted sectoral transformation has highlighted the preference and integration of various alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, non-biologically sourced renewable e-fuels and biofuels, but the availability, safety and price problems for none of them have been solved yet.
Many of these alternative fuels require large amounts of clean renewable energy for production. We observe that there have been a number of attempts to produce these fuels, but failures have occurred, mostly due to financial costsany of these alternative fuels require large amounts of clean renewable energy for production. We observe that there have been a number of attempts to produce these fuels, but failures have occurred, mostly due to financial costs. It is very clear that if the price Decit between fossil fuels and alternative fuels is not reduced, none of the alternative fuels proposed as a solution will be financially viable.
Secondly, there are several new regulatory developments every year, and shipowners have difficulty accessing qualified labor to meet these requirements. More specialized personnel and auditors are needed to follow the new regulations, improve the management and monitoring systems at the head offices, and provide effective supervision and support on ships.econdly, there are several new regulatory developments every year, and shipowners have difficulty accessing qualified labor to meet these requirements.
More specialized personnel and auditors are needed to follow the new regulations, improve the management and monitoring systems at the head offices, and provide effective supervision and support on ships. Unfortunately, the new regulations are being made in a very short time before the conditions of free competition are fully formed, and compliance is required in very short periods of time. Thirdly, we observe that technological developments are not sufficient to support the decarbonization of shipping.hirdly, we observe that technological developments are not sufficient to support the decarbonization of shipping. Although internal combustion engines and fuel cells are being developed by all major manufacturers to use new alternative fuels, the safety aspecThirdly, we observe that technological developments are not sufficient to support the decarbonization of shipping. Although internal combustion engines and fuel cells are being developed by all major manufacturers to use new alternative fuels, the safety aspects of refueling, storage, disposal and, most importantly, marine decarbonization have not yet been fully resolved.
"International obligations make it necessary to invest in structural transformation and new technologies in Turkish Maritime”
While the Turkish maritime sector is achieving this transformation, what should be done?
Turkey has to fulfill the obligations imposed by international agreements in terms of climate change and energy efficiency. This requires high-cost green transformation projects to be realized for ships, shipyards and ports. Turkey has to fulfill the obligations imposed by international agreements in terms of climate change and energy efficiency. This requires high-cost green transformation projects to be realized for ships, shipyards and ports. While preparing for such a period as Turkish Sailors, innovation approaches are needed that will reduce foreign dependence on engine technologies and auxiliary machines in shipbuilding and make Turkish Shipping have a say in core technologies as a sectoral player.
For this reason, it should be said that the tools that will support structural transformation reveal the need for significant investment in a new infrastructure, technological developments and workforce training. For this reason, it should be said that the tools that will support structural transformation reveal the need for significant investment in a new infrastructure, technological developments and workforce training.
As the industry struggles with these challenges, cooperation between stakeholders such as governments, shipping companies, technology providers and environmental organizations will be important in promoting innovation and achieving a sustainable future for global maritime transport.
In this context, the creation of incentive infrastructure for the establishment of corporate R & D structures, the possession of information and technology management to support autonomous structures with technologies that will add added value, the development of a Decarbonization tax as implemented by the European Union in the ETS for this purpose and the support of change will be a supporting tool. this context, the creation of incentive infrastructure for the establishment of corporate R & D structures, the possession of information and technology management to support autonomous structures with technologies that will add added value, the development of a Decarbonization tax as implemented by the European Union in the ETS for this purpose and the support of change will be a supporting tool.
"Turkey, projects for the Defense Industry have gained great momentum”
The Turkish merchant marine fleet has been growing steadily in recent years. Which rank did he rise to last? Turkish shipyards are also becoming an important player in the global Sunday. Could you tell us about the developments in our shipbuilding sector in particular?
Our maritime sector has benefited well from the stable environment our country has achieved since the early 2000s, and has achieved truly proud successes, gained a place in the international community, and risen to a respected position among the decision-making countries.ur maritime sector has benefited well from the stable environment our country has achieved since the early 2000s, and has achieved truly proud successes, gained a place in the international community, and risen to a respected position among the decision-making countries. as we enter the year 2025, the carrying capacity of Turkish shipping is 10th with 52 million DWT in the table of countries controlling the world's largest fleet. he was next in line.
Our country has become a country that has achieved great achievements in shipbuilding, repair, maintenance and repair, however, the type development of our shipyards continues rapidly. In addition, the military ships built in our shipyards are evidence of the point we have reached in our defense industry.
As of the first quarter of 2024, Türkiye has 85 active shipyards and a maximum shipbuilding capacity of 4.8 million DWT.s of the first quarter of 2024, Türkiye has 85 active shipyards and a maximum shipbuilding capacity of 4.8 million DWT. Our shipyards, which are specialized in megayacht and tug construction, are also prominent in the world Sunday in the construction of hybrid/electric propelled ferries, fishing vessels and military sea platforms with advanced technology.
In recent years, projects aimed at the Defense Industry have gained great momentum. After the successes achieved in this field, the shipyards of our country are now carrying out the construction of shipbuilding projects for military purposes with a higher domestic contribution rate by taking proposals even from abroad.n recent years, projects aimed at the Defense Industry have gained great momentum. After the successes achieved in this field, the shipyards of our country are now carrying out the construction of shipbuilding projects for military purposes with a higher domestic contribution rate by taking proposals even from abroad.
“Our ports, which are located on the entire coastline, have great strategic importance in terms of cargo transportation”
It is especially important for Turkey to increase its competitiveness in international transportation, especially the port infrastructure. What would you say about that?
Turkey's ports form the backbone of our logistics network. Our ports, located along the entire coastline, have great strategic importance in terms of cargo transportation. With their modern infrastructure and high service quality, they are rapidly advancing towards becoming a regional logistics centerurkey's ports form the backbone of our logistics network. Our ports, located along the entire coastline, have great strategic importance in terms of cargo transportation. With their modern infrastructure and high service quality, they are rapidly advancing towards becoming a regional logistics center. They handled approximately 532 million tons of cargo last year.
Our major port cities, especially Istanbul, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, Aliağa, Mersin, İskenderun and Samsun, are important centers of international trade.ur major port cities, especially Istanbul, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, Aliağa, Mersin, İskenderun and Samsun, are important centers of international trade. While these ports contribute to the growth of trade volume not only in Turkey but also in the surrounding couOur major port cities, especially Istanbul, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, Aliağa, Mersin, İskenderun and Samsun, are important centers of international trade. While these ports contribute to the growth of trade volume not only in Turkey but also in the surrounding countries, high-capacity container ports have become an effective component of the global supply chain by providing fast and reliable cargo transfers.
Infrastructure investments and modernization works carried out in recent years have increased the capacity of our ports and enabled them to reach global standards.
“The competitiveness of Turkish maritime will depend on a well-trained human resource that is compatible with digitalization and green transformation”
The employment of young sailors is a critical issue for sustainability in the sector.The competitiveness of Turkish maritime will depend on a well-trained human resource that is compatible with digitalization and green transformation”
How do you carry out activities to strengthen the position of the ”Turkish sailor" brand in the world maritime arena?
No matter how much technology, infrastructure and regulations develop, the human factor will continue to be at the center of success in maritime. Looking ahead, the competitiveness of Turkish maritime will depend on a well-trained human resource that is compatible with digitalization and green transformation matter how much technology, infrastructure and regulations develop, the human factor will continue to be at the center of success in maritime. Looking ahead, the competitiveness of Turkish maritime will depend on a well-trained human resource that is compatible with digitalization and green transformation. For all these reasons, as the Chamber, we consider supporting maritime education to be one of our most important tasks. We allocate an important part of our budget to educational activities every year.
As of today, there are 81 schools providing maritime education in Turkey and a total of 18,480 students are studying in these schools.s of today, there are 81 schools providing maritime education in Turkey and a total of 18,480 students are studying in these schools. When we focus on maritime education at the higher education level (vocational schools and faculties), we see that a total of 12,609 students are registered.
Furthermore, we continued to support the growth of all our maritime-related schools within our budget. We compiled and analyzed data received from maritime-related institutions, organizations, and NGOs, and provided contributions to those eligible through donations, grants, and sponsorships, all within our budget.
