We will continue to support our transportation in cabotage

Adil Karaismailoğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, delivered the opening speech of the "Turkey Maritime Summit" session, which will last for 1 days and will bring together the International maritime authorities in Istanbul on the 3st of July Maritime and Cabotage Day, which has a great meaning for Turkey in the field of Maritime. Ki-Tack Lim, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, and Ali Yerlikaya, the Governor of Istanbul, also attended the summit. Karaismailoğlu said, “When we look at the last ten-year history of Search and Rescue Activities; There were 2330 sea accidents and 13 thousand 19 people were rescued in these accidents, 607 of which occurred in international waters.

“The pandemic once again showed how important maritime is”

Starting his speech by thanking everyone who contributed to the realization of the summit, especially the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Karaismailoğlu emphasized that maritime transport, which undertakes 90 percent of world trade, is the backbone of the world economy, global exports and imports.

Karaismailoğlu, “Sea transportation; It is 22 times more economical than air transport, 7 times more economical than road transport, and 3,5 times more economical than rail transport. Our country, which was taken in order not to interrupt the maritime trade, which has a vital role in the continuity of world trade, due to the pandemic, also gave full support. In this context, in accordance with the recommendations of the International Maritime Organization, ship crews were announced as key personnel by our Ministry. All measures were taken to ensure that the ships could continue their trade without any problems. With the effect of these measures, there was an increase in the maritime trade of our country during the pandemic period when the world maritime trade decreased.

“We will continue to support our transportation in cabotage”

Emphasizing that the maritime sector is very important in line with the goal of being among the top 10 economies of the world, Minister Karaismailoğlu stated that they have largely solved Turkey's infrastructure problem that has been going on for years in the last 19 years, and that the country has been transported between Asia, Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Caucasus and Northern Black Sea countries He stated that they are working hard to turn it into an international corridor in every mode.

Karaismailoğlu said, "While the Turkish-owned Maritime Fleet was ranked 2003th in the world with 8,9 million deadweight tons in 17, it rose to 2021th place with 28,9 million deadweight tons as of January 15. In the January-May period of 2021, the amount of containers handled at our ports increased by 9,6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year and reached 5 million 99 thousand 938 TEUs… Filyos Port, which we built in the Black Sea and started its operations at the beginning of this month, is located in Çandarlı, which is under construction in the Aegean Sea. The ongoing expansion works at its Port and Mersin International Port and the construction of three more large ports in the three seas of our country is a move that brings our 'Maritime Country' identity to the fore.

“There are 2023 thousand amateur seafarers certified under the 'Target 1: 835 Million Amateur Seafarers Project'”

Reminding that Turkey, which is included in the White List, which is described as an indicator of prestige, rose 2019 steps compared to 7 and ranked 25th, and in 2020, rose 9 steps to 16th place, Minister Karaismailoğlu continued his speech as follows:

“There have been great successes in the shipbuilding industry as well. Our number of shipyards, which was 2002 in 37, has increased to 2021 by 84, and our annual production capacity has increased from 550 thousand heirloom tons to 4,65 million hefty tons, while our domestic rate has reached 60 percent. Our country, which is also the world's leading yacht manufacturer, ranked 3rd in the world in the production of mega yacht projects last year. As of now, there are 100 training institutions authorized by our Ministry, providing training at international standards, and more than a hundred thousand active seafarers ready to serve on ships in the world's seas. On the other hand, there are 2023 thousand amateur seafarers certified within the scope of the 'Target 1: 835 Million Amateur Seafarers Project' being carried out by our Ministry.”

“We are among the 6 countries in the world that have installed the MEOSAR system”

Minister Karaismailoğlu stated that the number of bilateral agreements made with the flag states that shape world maritime has also been signed with Denmark, Hong Kong and Norway in order to contribute to the employment of Turkish ship crews in the international arena, and the number of countries has increased to 35 with the protocols.

“We are among the 6 countries in the world that installed the MEOSAR system, which is the advanced generation of the Sarsat system and used by mid-altitude navigation satellites. We also renewed the electronic infrastructure of our Main Search and Rescue and Coordination Center, which has been operating for years to ensure the safety of our seafarers. Our center, which works with the help of satellites and has the supreme responsibility of saving lives, also supports Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia and Ukraine in their search and rescue activities in their own jurisdiction. This center provides services to Turkish maritime and Turkish aviation not only in the Turkish search and rescue region, but also in every part of the world, on a 7/24 working basis.”

“With Kanal Istanbul, we are actually opening the door to a new era in the transportation sector”

Noting that they have expanded their search and rescue efforts in accordance with the Turkish Exclusive Economic Zone and Blue Homeland doctrine, which was declared to protect the rights and interests of our country in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, Minister Karaismailoğlu also coordinated with the Ministry of Health for any medical aid and transport services that concern our citizens around the world. stated that they are.

Karaismailoğlu continued as follows: “We laid the foundation of our first bridge to be built on the Sazlıdere Dam, the first structure of our Kanal Istanbul Project, 5 days ago with the presence of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This project is a vision project that emerged in line with the technological and economic developments in the world and in our country, changing commercial trends and the increasing needs of our country and the world in terms of transportation infrastructures. Considering the regional and global developments, the traffic is expected to reach 2050 thousand in the 78s and 2070 thousand in the 86s. It is not possible for so many ships to pass through the strait, which poses a great problem even today. The importance of the construction of an alternative route to the Bosphorus is clear as day. With Kanal Istanbul, Turkey's role in maritime transport will be strengthened; The Black Sea will turn into a Turkish Trade Lake.”

Within the scope of the Istanbul program, a moment of silence and the National Anthem were sung in front of the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Monument, and then prayed at the tomb. Minister Karaismailoğlu wrote his feelings and thoughts in the notebook in memory of Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha and signed it. Finally, a wreath was thrown into the sea to commemorate the Martyrs of the Sea.