Minister Uraloglu Highlights Turkiye’s Strategic Role in Global Shipping and Future Growth Ambitions
Turkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, announced that Turkiye’s maritime trade fleet, consisting of over 2,000 ships exceeding 1,000 gross tons each and totaling 48.9 million deadweight tons, ranks 12th in the world. Minister Uraloglu made these remarks during his visit to the National Marine Safety Directorate in Tekirdag’s Marmaraereglisi district.
Uraloglu emphasized Turkiye’s strategic importance in global maritime trade, given its control over the critical Bosporus and Dardanelles straits and its extensive 8,333 km coastline. He stated, “As a natural peninsula with a coastline three times longer than its land borders, our aim is to leverage Turkiye’s rich maritime potential to climb higher in global maritime rankings.”
He highlighted that Turkiye, a pioneer in maritime activities, achieved the prestigious white list status in the Paris MoU in 2008, affirming the Turkish flag’s high standing among the world’s most esteemed.
Around-the-Clock Maritime Monitoring
Minister Uraloglu underscored that Turkiye’s fleet of over 2,000 ships larger than 1,000 gross tons ranks 12th globally. “Our container ports in Tekirdag, Ambarlı, Kocaeli, and Mersin are among the top 100 worldwide. In 2023, our 217 ports handled 521 million tons of cargo and 12.566 million TEU containers. We anticipate surpassing these figures in 2024, as the first half of this year has already seen a 3.2% increase in cargo to 269.182 million tons and an 11.2% rise in containers to 6.781 million TEU. New records are on the horizon,” he added.
Uraloglu stressed the importance of maritime safety and environmental protection, noting that Turkiye’s seas are monitored 24/7 to enhance navigation, life, property, and environmental safety.
Rescue Successes and Future Projects
Minister Uraloglu also highlighted the crucial role of the Search and Rescue Coordination Center, which successfully rescued 806 individuals in 339 incidents in 2023. “Our center not only serves the Turkish search and rescue region but also provides global services. It remains the only center in the country that can instantly communicate with neighboring and other nations’ rescue centers,” he said.
Future projects include the development of an advanced data exchange system to enhance maritime safety, and the establishment of the Eastern Mediterranean Vessel Traffic Services System in Northern Cyprus, expected to be completed by 2026. “This project will significantly enhance both Turkiye’s and Northern Cyprus’ control over their maritime territories,” Uraloglu noted.
Uraloglu concluded by highlighting ongoing investments in maritime safety and pollution prevention, ensuring that future generations inherit clean and secure seas.
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz