Arkas Anadolu Logistics has conducted Turkey’s first container cabotage transport from Mersin to Istanbul's Marport Terminal.

Regulations enacted in customs legislation related to cabotage between Turkish ports have opened the way for maritime shipping. Following the publication of the regulations in the Official Gazette in March, which allow for the cabotage items to be stored, unloaded and quarantined in customs areas, movement of freight to major ports has begun from ports at which only feeder are able to dock. This makes maritime transportation available to freight that is shipped overland from regions with small-scale ports to urban centers and industrial regions. The system, which primarily provides cost advantages to industrialists, will also reduce environmental harm and the load on highways, resolving traffic jams and minimizing traffic accidents. In September, Arkas realized a first in Turkey by completing a cabotage shipment with containers from the port of Mersin to Marport in Istanbul’s Ambarlı.

More tonnage in a single trip with cost-savings of 15%

With its priority mission to connect all Anatolian cities on the railroad network with Turkish ports and world cities, Arkas Anadolu Logistics has become the first company in Turkey to conduct a cabotage shipment with containers. The company’s first cabotage shipment between Mersin and Istanbul was 250 tons of ceramic glue and cement-based filling material that was transported from the customer's factory in Mersin to the port of Mersin and from there to Istanbul via ship and then onto the factory. A total of ten 40’ standard containers were delivered from Mersin to Istanbul by EMES and door-to-door from the port to the factory by Arkas Transport companies.

Cabotage shipment provides a cost benefit per ton of approximately 15 percent compared with overland shipment and reduces the company’s workload for high tonnage shipments. A high tonnage shipment that would take 20-30 vehicles several days via overland transportation can be delivered via ship to the desired port on a single vessel at once. iThe fact that the freight is transported in containers without spoiling or damage is an added benefit to the customer.