Maritime is a profession for those who know how to live with uncertainty.

The sea itself is already unpredictable enough. Today, however, wars, geopolitical tensions, sanctions, closed trade routes, energy security concerns and increasingly divided political blocs have been added to that uncertainty. Across a vast geography stretching from the Black Sea to the Red Sea, and from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, merchant vessels now navigate not only according to weather and sea conditions, but also by closely monitoring the political temperature of the world.

Plotting a course on the bridge is becoming increasingly difficult, because today there are risks that do not appear on charts.

A route considered safe one morning may fall within a war-risk area the next day. A port that has been used for years may suddenly become subject to sanctions. A political decision taken thousands of miles away can, within hours, alter a vessel’s route, cargo, insurance arrangements, crew changes and even a seafarer’s journey home.

Yet amid all this noise, one thing remains unchanged: world trade must continue.

And ships continue to sail. 

Türkiye: A Safe Harbour
When looking at today’s world from Istanbul, the significance of Türkiye’s geographical position becomes much clearer.

On one side lies the Black Sea, on the other the Mediterranean. To our north is Europe, to our east the Caucasus and Central Asia, and to our south the Middle East. And at the heart of this geography stands a city that ships have sailed past for centuries: Istanbul.

Describing this position merely through the familiar phrase “strategic geography” is no longer sufficient.

Türkiye’s real strength lies in its ability to stand at the crossroads of different worlds while communicating with all of them at the same time.

We are a country capable of adapting when the language of trade changes and maintaining operations when crises arise, enabling not only the movement of cargo between East and West, but also the flow of capital, people, knowledge and maritime culture.

Moreover, our strength is not limited to the unique geography provided by the Istanbul Strait.

With our shipyards, ports, shipowners, ship management companies, agencies, classification and insurance organisations, maritime education institutions and increasingly internationalised service companies, we possess a substantial maritime ecosystem.

For this reason, it would be a major misconception to view Türkiye simply as a country through which ships pass.

Today, Türkiye is not merely a country where ships pass; it is a country where maritime lives.

And at a time when the world is increasingly searching for trust and security, this carries great value. 

The Turkish Seafarer
However, Türkiye’s greatest strength in maritime is neither its straits, nor its ports, nor its shipyards.

Our greatest strength is its people.

Turkish seafarers have been serving in some of the world’s most challenging waters for many years. From the harsh winter conditions of Northern Europe to the intense port traffic of the Far East, from ocean crossings to regions where war risks are increasing, they work within a wide range of operational environments and cultures.

Recent years have pushed the limits of this profession even further.

Just as the pandemic seemed to be ending, war began. While the war continued, new security threats emerged. Trade routes changed, access to ports became more difficult, visa problems increased and regulations became more demanding.

But the ships did not stop.

Nor did Turkish seafarers.
Sometimes they remained away from home for months, sometimes leaving behind worried families, and sometimes standing watch on the bridge while a war continued only a few hundred miles away. They carried out their duties in engine rooms, on deck and during cargo operations.

Because some things in maritime cannot be measured by statistics.

The value of the right decision made on a stormy night, a captain who lifts the spirits of an exhausted crew, a chief engineer who solves a breakdown before reaching port, or a seafarer who safely completes an operation under difficult conditions often does not appear in the lines of a report.

Yet world trade also depends on this invisible effort.

This is precisely where the true value of the Turkish seafarer becomes apparent.

Professional knowledge is, of course, important. But the sea teaches people other qualities as well: the ability to make decisions when circumstances change, to take responsibility, to find solutions when resources are limited and, most importantly, to remain calm under pressure.

And that is exactly what today’s maritime world is looking for:
-Resilience. 
-Before the Ships of the Future, the Seafarers of the Future

At major gatherings such as SMM in Hamburg, we naturally talk about the future. New fuels, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, automation, more efficient vessels and smarter systems...

All of these are necessary.

However, it would be a major mistake to view the future of maritime solely through the lens of technology.

Technology makes systems more efficient when conditions are normal. Real seamanship, however, begins when conditions cease to be normal.

When the plan displayed on the screen no longer works, when the weather deteriorates beyond expectations, when a port closes, when communications are lost, or when a political crisis changes a vessel’s route overnight, someone still has to make the decision.

That person is the seafarer.

For this reason, I believe that one of the most important discussions of the coming period should focus not only on the “ship of the future”, but also on the “seafarer of the future.”

We need people who will use more technology without becoming dependent on it; who will manage increasingly complex regulations without losing the fundamental instincts of seamanship; and who, when faced with a crisis, will not merely search for a procedure but will demonstrate leadership when necessary.

I believe Türkiye has something important to say to the world in this field. 

Returning to Istanbul
Perhaps for this very reason, Istanbul remains one of the most meaningful cities in which to discuss the future of global maritime.

Ships have sailed past this city for thousands of years. Empires changed, trade routes changed, and ships evolved from sail to steam, and from steam to the technologies of today.

Istanbul remained.
Now, a new era lies ahead.

With the international Seafarers Summit, which we plan to organise in Istanbul in March 2027, we aim to bring maritime professionals from different parts of the world around the same table. This time, however, the focus will not be solely on ships, markets or technology.

The focus will be on people.

In Istanbul, we will discuss the seafarer of the future, leadership at sea, resilience, trust and the new responsibilities that a changing world is placing on the maritime profession.

Because Istanbul is not simply a city connecting two continents.

Istanbul is a city where seas meet, where trade changes direction and where maritime has found its way for centuries.

No matter how uncertain the world becomes, maritime trade will continue to search for harbours it can trust.

Türkiye is one of those harbours.

The Turkish seafarer is one of the strongest guarantees of that trust.

And Istanbul will continue to be one of the shining stars of global maritime.