SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY IN TURKEY

Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides, is a natural bridge between Asia and Europe.

Turkey borders the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara.

The growth of world trade, high freight rates, renewal of merchant fleets in accordance

with international rules and the China factor, who is number one in world trade, are

effective in the development of the sea transport and shipbuilding industry. As a result of

Turkey’s geographical location and global developments, Turkey’s shipbuilding industry

has been boosted.

Shipbuilding is a 600-year old tradition in Anatolia. The first shipyard was established in

1390, during the Ottoman reign in Gelibolu. In 1455, the foundation of the İstanbul Haliç

Shipyard, whose stone pools have survived to date, was laid by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. By

the 16th century, Turkish shipyards were already the largest in the world. Following the

foundation of the Republic, shipyards were given special importance. They were mostly

located around the Bosphorus and Haliç (the Golden Horn), but after 1969 they were

moved to Aydınlı Bay, Tuzla.

Traditional shipbuilding skills combined with modern techniques and education has

enabled the Turkish shipbuilding industry to develop into an internationally known

trademark since the early 1990’s. Turkey is a growing force within the international

maritime sector. The Turkish shipbuilding industry has modern, technologically developed

and quality certified shipyards, together with a well-experienced work force. The industry

has rapidly achieved significant development in a short period of time. In last five years

Turkey has improved its shipbuilding industry rapidly and becoming the fifth largest

shipbuilding country in the world.

A high expectation of development in the shipbuilding industry brings parallel investments.

The number of shipyards increased to 87 (3 military and 84 private). In Turkey’s shipyards

brand new ships, yachts, mega-yachts and sailing boats are being manufactured. In

addition to these, repair and maintenance services are provided. Turkish shipyards are

located in Tuzla, Marmara, Black Sea and Mediterranean regions.

Turkish shipyards have 1 million DWT(Deadweight ton) new ship building capacity, 14.6

million DWT repair and maintenance capacity, 600,000 ton steel processing capacity and

an 80,000 DWT new ship building capacity as one piece. Turkish shipyards have 15

floating docks of different sizes and one dry dock.

The Turkish shipbuilding industry makes a considerable contribution to the Turkish

economy with 1.5 billion $ from new ship building, and 1 billion $ from repair and

maintenance activities. Sector development also helps the domestic production of

materials and equipment which are used in shipbuilding. Furthermore, the industry creates

an employment opportunity for approximately 25,000 people directly and 63,000 people in

total with related industries.

72 ships with a total of 550,000 DWT had been delivered as of November 2009. The types 

and tonnage capacities of these Turkish and foreign flag ships varied: petrol tankers,

chemical tankers, fishing boats, container ships, bulk carriers, yachts, tug boats, tankers,

sailing boats, general cargo ships, oil tankers, intervention crafts, coast guards, speed

boats, multi and special purpose ships, military vessels, servicing tankers, bunker barges,

tugboats, mega yachts and other types of sailing and motor boats. Ships produced in

© Republic of Turkey - Ministry of Economy, 2012

Turkey are manufactured in accordance with international standards (ISO 9000 and AQAP

Quality Certificates) and under the supervision of specific societies.

Being the top manufacturer of low-tonnage chemical tankers in Europe, Turkish shipyards

receive many orders for petrol tankers, chemical tankers, sailing and fishing boats.

Mega-yacht manufacturing is another important production area of Turkish shipyards. In

recent years Turkey has shown great progress in building and equipping boats, yachts and

mega yachts. Turkey has been number four on the world list of mega-yacht (yachts longer

than 25m) manufacturers.

In addition, repair and maintenance service for ships are provided. Many ships were

revamped or repaired, including their petrol platforms. Among the services provided by

Turkish shipyards, repair/maintenance plays an important role. In 2008 Turkey’s repair

maintenance operations reached 5,500,000 DWT.

Ship breaking is also important part of Turkish maritime sector. The ship scrapping sector

is a technological process involving demolition of old and/or decommissioned ships which

are out of service, respecting the environment and safety concerns. There are 21 ship

recycling companies operating in Turkey. The ship recycling capacity of these companies

is one million metric tons/year (5th largest recycling area in the world). In 2008, 152,757

tons were recycled in Turkey.

EXPORTS

The Turkish shipbuilding industry has important export potential with increasing production

capacity. Exports realized US$ 1.1 billion in 2010 with a 39% decrease compared to the

previous year. In 2011 sector export increased US$ 1,2 billion with a %14,9 increase

compared to 2010. In 2011, exports of cruise ships, excursion boats, ferry-boats, cargo

ships, barges and similar vessels for the transport of persons or goods ranked first with a

value of US$ 822 million. Yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports; rowing boats

and canoes exports realized US$ 251 million and ranked second in the overall shipbuilding

industry exports. The major markets for the Turkish shipbuilding industry are Malta,

Marshall Islands, Panama and United Kingdom.

Due to the developments in the Turkish shipbuilding industry and world demand, there has

been a sharp increase in production volume and product diversity at ship subsidiary

industries in Turkey. The sector can produce anchors, chains, bollards, locking

equipments, windlasses and equipment, electric cables and hydraulic units. In 2009 global

economic crisis affected the sector seriously but in 2010 and 2011 years the economic

climate has been recovering and that development also reflected on shipbuilding sector.

Marine propulsion engines are the main exported spare ship parts with a value of US$ 3.6

million dollar. The major markets for the Turkish ship subsidiary industry are the Iran, USA,

Germany and Greece.

TRADE FAIRS

􀂃 Tüyap İstanbul İnternational Boat Show

18-25 February 2012, İstanbul

􀂃 Fethiye Marina Yacht Show Fair 2012

9-13 May 2012,Muğla

􀂃 Göcek Boat Expo

14-18 June 2012,Muğla

􀂃 International Bodrum Yacht Show 2012

29 August 2 Eylül 2012,Muğla

􀂃 Golden Horn Boat Show İstanbul

21-23 September 2012, İstanbul

􀂃 31.İnternational İstanbul Boat Show Fair

29 Eylül-7 October 2012, İstanbul

􀂃 Avrasya Boat Show 2012 6.Sea vessels, Equipment ve Accessories.

24 November-2 Dcember 2012, İstanbul

USEFUL LINKS

􀂃 Turkish Shipbuilders Association

www.gisbir.org.tr

􀂃 Ship and Yatch Exporters' Association

www.iib.org.tr

Keywords : shipbuilding market research , Turkish shipbuilding industry ,Turkey industry reports