Cenk Group, which has pioneered firsts in the Turkish maritime field and has been operating in the sector for over 40 years, announced that it is on the eve of new auspicious news. Its founder and Chairman of the Board, Attila Yener, stated, “Every step taken for Turkey’s logistical independence contributes directly to the economy. With these lines, we are offering new opportunities to both exporters and transit trade. We have opened new routes in Turkish maritime.”
Turkey’s maritime transport sector has undergone a significant transformation and growth process since the 1990s. New lines stretching from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, investments made by the private sector in logistics infrastructure, and innovative steps taken in maritime have strengthened Turkey’s economic integration.
Cenk Denizcilik, which entered the maritime sector in 1986 with agency and ship chartering services, expanded its field of activity in 1991 with Ro-Ro vehicle transport, becoming a pioneering organization in combined transport that integrally conducts sea, land, and railway transportation. These visionary steps enabled the company to acquire a corporate identity under the umbrella of Cenk Group.
Operating today as one of the leading logistics and maritime transport companies in the Black Sea region, Cenk Group acts with an approach that “targets quality over size.” Its understanding of timely, safe, sustainably cost-effective, and customer-focused service forms the basis of the group’s success in the sector.
The journey of firsts in maritime
New maritime services opened on the Black Sea and Mediterranean routes have created significant opportunities in regional trade by strengthening Turkey’s export and logistics capacity. The first private sector RORO ships put into service in 1991 and 1992 brought a new breath to private maritime transport in Turkey.
Atilla Yener
Attila Yener, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Cenk Group, describing the years they entered the sector, said, “In 1991, I acquired my first ship, the CENK K, and in 1992, my second ship, the CENK II. Although these ships were small and old, they were Turkey’s first private sector RORO ships outside the state fleet. In 1993, during the Abkhaz-Georgian war, we initiated the first RORO services between Turkey and Russia to transport Turkish trucks and drivers who were struggling to reach Russia. This step provided an alternative maritime bridge to Turkey’s land transport, ensured the continuity of foreign trade, and initiated the private sector’s entrepreneurship in maritime.”
Contribution to the economy and strengthening of regional trade
CENK GROUP, which strengthens the logistical backbone of not only Turkey but also regional trade with its Black Sea and Mediterranean lines, plays a critical role in Turkey’s export transportation with its regular services from Derince and Karasu ports to ports in Romania, Georgia, and Ukraine. With an annual capacity of over 90,000 trailers and 50,000 vehicles, Cenk Group ensures the continuity of the regional logistics chain by transporting vehicles of Far Eastern automotive brands from transit centers to neighboring countries.
Attila Yener, who proudly bears the title of being the first private sector company to initiate vehicle transport by railway in Turkey, stated, “The railway transport we started between Derince and Iran in 2005 increased Turkey’s multimodal transport capacity by ensuring the integration of land, sea, and railway.”
Bu opened the way for sustainable growth and commercial resilience in logistics,” he said.
The bold step opened new lines in logistics
Sharing Cenk Group’s future goals, Yener stated, “Despite geopolitical challenges like the war in Ukraine, we maintained our services on the Romania and Georgia lines. We recently opened our Karasu–Odessa line and started our Ukraine voyages. In the upcoming period, we aim to expand into the Mediterranean and reduce our environmental impact by integrating green maritime technologies. Our goal is to create a sustainable and strong maritime transport model that contributes to the logistics continuity of Turkey and the region.”
7DENIZ
