Istanbul and Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions Turkish Chamber of Shipping, briefly called the Turkish Chamber of Shipping,  is an important professional organization of the Turkish maritime trade sector, headquartered in Istanbul. Its branches are located in Izmir, Bodrum, Marmaris, Antalya, Iskenderun, Fethiye, Karadeniz Ereğli (Western Black Sea Region), Kocaeli, and Aliaga. In addition, it has a Liaison Bureau in Ankara and representatives in all coastal provinces and districts of Türkiye. The Turkish Chamber of Shipping was first established on 26 August 1982 as the Istanbul Turkish Chamber of Shipping, and later its area of activity was expanded to include the Sea of Marmara Region, Türkiye’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, and eventually the country’s Black Sea coast.

OBJECTIVES

The most important objectives of the Turkish Chamber of Shipping are, protecting the interests of its members; meeting the common needs of seafarers; ensuring the development of the maritime profession; facilitating professional activities; establishing common rules; making recommendations to authorities on maritime issues; and at the same time preserving the discipline, ethics, and solidarity of the maritime profession.

ACTIVITIES

The main activities of the Turkish Chamber of Shipping include: determining the rules and practices related to maritime transportation; conducting research; collecting information on maritime transport; ensuring that maritime trade develops in line with national transportation policy; providing foreign institutions with information on the capabilities and tariffs of Turkish ports; becoming a member of international maritime organizations and monitoring their activities; and performing other duties defined by law.

MEMBERS

Among the members of the Turkish Chamber of Shipping are; shipowners, ship operators, shipping agents, ship sale and purchase brokers, forwarders, stevedores, tally firms, classification societies, marine insurance companies, underwriters, marine surveyors and experts and those providing auxiliary services such as salvage, rescue, pilotage, dredging and yachting and also ship chandlers and suppliers, port, marina operators, ship-yacht builders and shipyards, ship-yacht equipment and repair services, maritime training companies, sand extractors and fishermen.

Turkish Chamber of Shipping is a member of The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) and The International Chamber of Commerce - The Turkish National Committee (ICC Türkiye), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), The International Chamber of Commerce – International Maritime Bureau (ICC-IMB), The Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents (FONASBA), The European Community Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (ECASBA), The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), The European Boating Association (EBA), The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), The European Shortsea Network (ESN), The Turkish - German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TD-IHK), Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedCruise), International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO), The International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO)