The 7th Meeting of the Joint Professional Committees of the Chamber of Maritime Commerce (DTO) held in Sapanca brought all representatives of the maritime sector to the same table. Making the most notable speech of the meeting, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, delivered important messages regarding both the recent incidents in the Black Sea and the level Turkey has reached in maritime affairs.
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the process related to the explosion and suspected possible attack on two tankers named KAIROS and VIRAT in the Black Sea the previous day is being meticulously monitored. Stating that the Coast Safety and Coast Guard teams quickly reached the scene, Uraloğlu emphasized that 25 sailors were rescued in a successful operation during the fire on the KAIROS tanker. He expressed that there was no loss of life or vital danger on the VIRAT tanker and that all developments are being closely monitored by the Ministry.
Describing maritime as “a union of destiny beyond a profession,” Uraloğlu stated that everyone who works at sea shares the same risks and responsibilities.
Continuing his speech, Uraloğlu evaluated the momentum Turkey has recently captured in maritime, saying that 2025 is a turning point year in a sectoral sense. He stated that Turkey holds a strong place in world maritime thanks to its 217 port facilities, 85 active shipyards, 186 boat manufacturing and haul-out areas, and 23 ship recycling facilities.
Underlining the rise of the Turkish merchant marine fleet in recent years, the Minister said,
“In 2002, we were in 17th place in the world rankings. Today, with 2,203 ships and a capacity of 53.1 million deadweight tons, we have managed to enter the top 10. Our aim is to go much higher.”
Uraloğlu stated that the figures reached in port operations also demonstrate Turkey’s strength. He indicated that since 2002, there has been a 180% increase in cargo handling and a 443% increase in container traffic.
The Minister stated that in 2024, a total of 532 million tons of cargo and 13.5 million TEUs were handled in ports, and conveyed that Turkey now has five ports among the world’s top 100 busiest ports.
Uraloğlu recalled that they signed two important agreements during the IMO’s 34th General Assembly in London. Stating that the Seafarers’ Competency Standards Agreement with Panama, in particular, is critical, the Minister said,
“With this agreement, Turkish seafarers will now be able to serve on ships flying the Panamanian flag, which is the world’s second-largest fleet. This is a major gain both in terms of employment and international visibility.”
He also stated that Turkey’s election to the IMO Council once again, with the support of 139 countries, is a strong indicator of international trust.
Stating that Turkey has made a significant leap in yacht tourism, Uraloğlu indicated that the number of marinas, which was 41 in 2002, has now reached 65, and the berthing capacity has increased to 26 thousand. He said that with new projects ongoing in Datça, Tekirdağ, Haliç, and Mersin, this capacity will increase even further.
In cruise tourism, he reported that a record was broken in the first 10 months of 2025 with 1,278 ships and over 2 million passengers.
Stating that Ro-Ro transport continues to strengthen, Uraloğlu expressed that over 600,000 vehicles were transported by sea in the first 10 months of the year. He said that with new lines, more road freight will be directed to the sea.
Stating that Turkey has risen to second place in the world in yacht and boat production, Uraloğlu emphasized that developments in electric and hybrid yacht production are increasing international interest.
He said that refit and maintenance-repair demands are also creating a strong growth curve in the sector.
The Minister, stating that significant contributions have been made to the sector to date with our tax-free fuel support, added that there is intense demand for the incentive program for the renewal of Turkish-flagged ships.
DTO President Tamer Kıran, in his speech, drew attention to the importance of Turkey’s re-election to the IMO Council, while emphasizing that the sector is directly affected by global crises.
Kıran stated that climate change, alternative fuels, digitalization, and carbon regulations will be the most important topics of the upcoming period,
“We must establish a greener, more digital, and more resilient maritime structure against global fluctuations.” he said.
