The "Award on Water" ceremony, organized by the Ship, Yacht and Services Exporters' Association (GYHİB), celebrated the sector's record-breaking achievements of the past two years while also bringing to light significant future challenges, including rising costs and financial difficulties.

Istanbul, Turkey – The Ship, Yacht and Services Exporters' Association (GYHİB) honored its top-performing companies of 2023 and 2024 at the "Award on Water" ceremony. The event, attended by high-level officials from the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, as well as heads of leading industry NGOs, served as both a celebration and a critical platform where industry leaders voiced their concerns about the future.

Record Highs and Competitiveness Concerns Collide

In his opening speech, Cem Seven, Chairman of GYHİB, stated that the sector had reached its highest-ever export figures, totaling $1.94 billion in 2023 and $1.91 billion in 2024. "The Turkish ship and yacht sector has gained a worldwide reputation," Seven remarked.

However, Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TİM), highlighted the challenges behind these successes. "For the last two years, we have been facing competitiveness issues due to costs. We are all experiencing the negative effects of the policy of low exchange rates and high interest rates," Gültepe said, emphasizing the need to strengthen the sector with strategic support. Recent industry data, showing a decline in exports in the first quarter of 2025, corroborates these concerns.

Champions of Export Announced

Despite the challenging conditions, companies that made significant contributions to the Turkish economy were recognized at the ceremony. The top three exporters for 2024 were:

1. Sanmar Denizcilik
2. Tersan Tersanecilik
3. Sefine Denizcilik Tersanecilik

In 2023, the top spot was held by Tersan Tersanecilik, followed by Sefine Denizcilik and Sanmar Denizcilik. Awards were also presented to the most successful firms in 8 different sub-categories, including tugboats, yachts, and fishing vessels.

The Sector's Course: Green and High-Tech

The Turkish maritime sector's key strategy against economic pressures is to focus on high-value-added, environmentally friendly, and technologically advanced shipbuilding. Steps taken in this field signal a promising future:

• Sanmar Denizcilik is a global pioneer, having built the world's first LNG-fueled and fully electric tugboats.
• Sefine Shipyard is exporting numerous hybrid and fully electric ferries to countries with the highest environmental standards, such as Norway.
• Cemre Shipyard has made a name for itself by building the world's first green methanol-powered Service Operation Vessel (SOV).

Global Promotion Offensive with "Art on Water"

The "Art on Water" project, whose second season was launched at the ceremony, aims to showcase the sector's technological and aesthetic strengths to the world. The campaign, which creatively links the modern art of shipbuilding with the traditional Turkish art of Ebru (water marbling), seeks to enhance the global image of the "Made in Türkiye" brand.

In conclusion, the "Award on Water" ceremony conveyed a dual message: while the Turkish ship and yacht sector celebrates its proven manufacturing capabilities and record successes, it must also resolutely navigate a course toward green technology and innovation to remain competitive in the global market.