IMEAK (Istanbul, Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea Regions) Chamber of Shipping Chairman Tamer Kıran made critical statements regarding the maritime sector at two important meetings held in Sakarya. While Kıran expressed sectoral problems and solution proposals at the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping Joint Professional Committees 7th Meeting, he evaluated the global markets and the rise of the Turkish fleet in the world rankings at the Chamber of Shipping Monthly Regular Meeting.
IMEAK Chamber of Shipping Chairman Tamer Kıran, in his speech at the Joint Professional Committees 7th meeting, stated that the world is going through a difficult period where very important problems exist, primarily concerning peace, environment, and the economy. Emphasizing that the Turkish economy is also going through a dynamic process under the influence of global uncertainties and geopolitical developments, Kıran expressed that the fight against inflation is being attempted while maintaining the balance of production, exports, and employment. Kıran stated that access to finance and cost pressures continue to affect the sector. “Green port and alternative fuels are the most important agenda items”
Stating that the maritime sector, as one of the main elements of the global economy and trade, is directly affected by all problems, Tamer Kıran noted the following:
“Especially within the scope of climate change and thus environmental protection, the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships, increasing energy efficiency, the shift towards alternative fuels, new generation technological solutions and ‘green port’ practices are listed as the most important agenda items facing the sector. While increasing protectionist tendencies in global trade and carbon border regulations bring about a need for a new transformation in production and investment policies, it seems certain that countries implementing predictable and transformation-supporting policies will be more advantageous in competition in this process.”
Kıran stated that these developments make it mandatory to become more environmentally friendly, more digital, and more resilient against political risks for sustainable maritime transport, and emphasized that while they are proud of the development shown by Turkish commercial shipping, investments need to be developed along the axes of green and digital transformation in order not to lose the achieved momentum.
Solution proposals and support requests to the Ministry
Stating that they regularly submit files containing the sector’s problems concerning the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and solution proposals, Tamer Kıran touched upon the following important topics in his speech:
“Within the scope of the development and support of the Turkish-owned merchant marine fleet, there is a need for the renewal of the merchant marine fleet, and primarily the Coaster Fleet, in the short and medium term. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s revolving capital-based scrap incentive support practice for the renewal of the Coaster Fleet; could not be utilized to the targeted extent due to the increase in shipbuilding costs and difficulties in accessing finance. Ensuring that this support is used together with the support and incentives of the Ministry of Industry and Technology is important.
On the other hand, I would like to state that we desire for more of the resources collected in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Revolving Fund to be transferred to the maritime sector, thereby contributing more to the green transformation of the fleet, shipyards, and ports.
Demand for “green transformation” in Central Bank-sourced credits
Kıran stated that within the scope of the development of the Turkish Owned Merchant Marine Fleet, new shipbuilding investments should benefit from the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Sourced Investment Committed Advance Credit, which is implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology based on the Investment Incentive Certificate.
In this context, Kıran conveyed that they have formally requested the relevant Ministry and the Central Bank to add “Marine Vessels Using Next-Generation Alternative Fuels Within the Scope of Green Transformation” to the “List of Technology Fields” within the framework of the “Strategic Priority and Technical Evaluation of Investment Projects” conducted by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, in order to enable the use of Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey sourced credits, and expressed their expectation for support in the process.
First project with the World Bank after 70 years
Noting that the maritime sector has never benefited from World Bank financing opportunities until now, Kıran announced that the World Bank Turkey Office has initiated studies for the first time in 70 years to carry out a “Turkey Maritime Sector Project”. Kıran emphasized that realizing this project under the coordination of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is essential for the sector’s global competitiveness.
It was stated that with this financing source, projects for the renewal of the Turkish Merchant Marine Fleet, the green transformation of shipyards and ports, and the conversion of passenger ferries in maritime mass passenger transport to next-generation environmentally friendly passenger vehicles could be implemented.
Furthermore, Kıran reminded that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is conducting the “Decarbonization of the Maritime Sector and Green Maritime Transport Project in Turkey” in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Union, and the “GreenVoyage2050” program with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), adding that these projects will be beneficial for the sector and they expect them to be implemented as soon as possible. Kıran: “The Turkish merchant fleet rose to 10th place in the world rankings”
IMEAK Chamber of Shipping Board Chairman Tamer Kıran evaluated the global maritime markets and the place of the Turkish fleet in the world at the Chamber of Shipping Monthly Regular Meeting held in Sakarya.
“Ceasefire” between the US and China energized the markets
Touching on the maritime markets, Kıran stated that the one-year ceasefire reached after the meeting between US President Donald Trump and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping caused an upward revision of the growth expectation in global maritime transport.
Relaying the details of the agreement, Kıran said, “With the agreement, the new US tariffs on Chinese imports were reduced from 30% to 20%, China resumed purchases of soybeans and other agricultural products from the US, withdrew export restrictions on rare earth elements, and agreed to cooperate with the US on energy. The US withdrew the 301 investigations targeting China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries.
suspended the madde application and additional port fees for one year, while in return China also suspended the countermeasures it applied to ships connected to the United States for one year.
2025 and 2026 Expectations
Kıran stated that in global maritime shipping, which was weak in the first half of 2025, strong trends were observed as of the third quarter of the year, and due to the impact of positive developments such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the OPEC+ group increasing production again after their cut decision, the sector displayed a more positive outlook compared to the initial growth forecasts for 2025.
Kıran announced that global maritime shipping is expected to increase by 0.9% annually in terms of tons to 12.8 billion tons in 2025, while the annual increase in ton-miles is expected to be 1.2%. Stating that the growth forecasts for 2026 are more positive, Kıran noted that growth of 1.6% in terms of tons and 2% in terms of ton-miles is foreseen.
Turkey became the 10th country with the highest ship tonnage
Tamer Kıran also shared a pleasing development for Turkey. He announced that in the ranking of countries with the highest ship tonnage in the world, Turkey, which was in 17th place 7 years ago, rose to 10th place this year with 52 million 70 thousand Deadweight Ton (DWT).
Emphasizing that while Norway and Germany, which were above Turkey in the list in the last 5 years, saw tonnage losses, Turkey became the first country with the highest rate of tonnage increase among the top 10 countries with a 15.8% tonnage increase, Kıran provided the information that “In the tonnage increase ranking, China ranked second with 9.6%, followed by Italy with 7.4%.”
Kıran also stated that Greece, which has been the leader in the ranking of countries with the highest ship tonnage in the world for over 20 years and currently has a capacity of 427 million 93 thousand Deadweight Ton, had to cede the top position to China with a tonnage of 453 million 135 thousand Deadweight Ton.
