Category Archives: News

Norwegian Delegation visits GISBIR HQ

Norwegian Delegation and the Turkish Chamber of Shipping Board Members visited GISBIR Headquarters on the date of 23 October 2014.

The Norway Delegation consisting of Mr. Per Erik DALEN “Global Center of Expertise – Blue Maritime” CEO , Mr Hans Petter HILDRE, Aalesund University College Maritime Technology and Operations Faculty , the Turkish Chamber of Shipping Board Members Mrs Sadan Kaptanoglu and Mr Sualp Urkmez and Mr Caglar Erdogan from Innovation Norway visited GISBIR Headquarters and met Mr Orhan Torlak, Deputy President GISBIR, Mr Suheyl Demirtas, the Secretary-General GISBIR and GISBIR Secretariat.

A presentation in English was made for the delegation providing detailed information about the Turkish shipyards and the Turkish shipbuilding industry.

GISBIR Participates 2. International Shipbuilding and Maritime Conference

GISBIR President Gives Interview to Demir Celik Store Magazine

GISBIR Secretary-General Gives Interview to the ShipManagement International.

Mr Suheyl Demirtas, the Secretary-General GISBIR gave an nterview to the ShipManagement International.

GISBIR Secretary-General Mr Suheyl Demirtas meets the Singapore Delegation

GISBIR Secretary-General Mr Suheyl Demirtas met Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Fang Ai Lian, President Singaporean Business Federation Başkanı, Mr Gokhan Murat Kalsin, Deputy President Istanbul chamber of commerce (ITO) on the date of 15 October 2014 during the Seminar “Doing Business in Singapore”.

GISBIR Attends TEAM 2014 Conference

Mr Bilgehan Bayramoglu, Vice President Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association (GISBIR) attended the 28th Asian Pasific Technical Exchange and Advisory Meeting on Marine Structures (TEAM 2014) Conference, which was held by School of the Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Faculty of the Istanbul Technical University between the dates 13-16 October 2014.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ergin, Dean of the Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Faculty, presented a plaque to Mr Bilgehan Bayramoglu, Vice President Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association (GISBIR) for GISBIR’s support for TEAM 2014 Conference.

Interview given by Mr Murat Kiran, President GISBIR was published in The Independent, the national newspaper in the United Kingdom.

Turkey Report, which was prepared by the World Folio and published and distributed with The Independent on 30 September 2014 highlighted the interview made with Mr Murat Kiran, President GISBIR. Full article and the advertisement of GISBIR are as follows:

Full speed ahead for shipbuilders

Turkey’s shipbuilding industry grew at more than three times the worldwide rate between 2002 and 2008, and is currently the world’s fifth largest for units of ships built. Moreover, small and versatile shipbuilders are helping Turkey maintain its leadership in the global shipbuilding industry, following the sector’s decline in 2009. According to Murat Kiran, President of the Turkish Shipbuilder’s Association (GISBIR), “In order to overcome the negative impact of the global economic crisis, we aim to create solutions that tackle overcapacity by building different types of vessels, not ordinary ones, taking market demand into consideration.” Dearsan Shipyard is one example of a small shipbuilder that strategically focuses on naval vessels because “almost all countries are dealing with piracy, drug smuggling, human trafficking; these are the main challenges of the navies now,” says Chairman Taner Akkaya.

“We could survive once we switched to building warships. The companies in the sector that invested in building naval ships and cruise yachts could survive.” Turkey, which ranks number one in small tonnage chemical and oil tanker building, also oversaw the creation of the award-winning Maltese Falcon, one of the largest privately owned sailing yachts in the world. In fact, the country is the third largest global supplier of mega-yachts, earning €300 million annually, says Mr Kiran. The quality of Turkish ships is high. Though the Far East can build ships cheaper, it cannot match Turkey in quality, according to GISBIR’s President. Turkey’s industry boasts authorised makers and classification societies such as Lloyd’s Register and Bureau Veritas.

Süheyl Demirtas, Secretary General of GISBIR, adds that major shipping companies like Maersk, Novoship Russia, Nasco Gem Marine and Euroland all have fleet agreements with member shipyards. “They send their audit teams and they analyze the shipyards, financially, technically and administratively as well as the occupational and safety considerations,” he says. “This shows that Turkish shipyards are accepted worldwide quality-wise and health and safety-wise.” Turkey is also favored because of its experienced, young and flexible workforce and proximity to Europe. Mr Demirtas adds, “Because of our relatively lower prices in comparison to the EU countries, repair and maintenance is also an important part of the sector. We give good prices.” He says contracts with the Ministry of Defense and SSM (Undersecretariat of Defense Industries) have been important to the industry’s buoyancy. These entities have put confidence in local shipbuilders, helping them grow. When the Ministry and SSM decided to employ Dearsan, “they took a great risk,” Mr Akkaya says, “because naval ship standards are very high”. However, his company had already laid the groundwork by investing heavily in certification and other necessary upgrades. His firm also employs many retired navy personnel. Furthermore, GISBIR supports Piri Reis University, one of Europe’s most important maritime universities, helping to make it possible to waive tuition and fees until graduation.

Morocco Delegation pays a visit at GISBIR

Mr. Mohamed Marzagui, Head of Maritime Navigation Division of the Kingdom of Morocco visited Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association (GISBIR) Headquarters on 30.09.2014 with Mr Emrah Yaman (Phd.), Maritime Expert (International Relations) of the Ministry of Transport Maritime Affairs and Communications of Turkey.

GISBIR Board Treasurer Mr Orkun Ozek, Mr Suheyl Demirtas, the Secretary-General and Mr Ercan Ozokutucu, the Deputy Secretary-General welcomed the delegation and made a presentation regarding GISBIR, its history and the Turkish shipbuilding industry.

Mr. Mohamed Marzagui gave GISBIR representatives an informative briefing about the World Maritime Day Parallel Event, which will be held in Morocco from 27 to 29 October 2014 within the IMO – the International Maritime Organization’s World Maritime Day and the maritime & shipbuilding industry of Morocco.

Following the visit at GISBIR, the delegation was welcomed at Celiktrans Shipyard, GISBIR member, followed by a presentation about the activities of the shipyard.