Şadan Kaptanoğlu emphasizes respect for council members' free will and rejects allegations following the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping elections.
CANDIDATE FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF İMEAK CHAMBER OF SHIPPING, Şadan Kaptanoğlu, responded to statements made following the chamber elections held on October 11, 2026. Kaptanoğlu noted that the distribution of the 120 Council members resulted in 61 to 59 and reacted to the portrayal of the upcoming board chairmanship election as if the outcome had already been determined. In a statement released on behalf of the New Route at Sea movement, Kaptanoğlu emphasized the need to respect the free will of the Council members, rejected the allegations directed at them, and announced that they would exercise their legal rights.
THE WILL OF THE BALLOT IS CLEAR, THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL IS FREE
October 13, 2026, Istanbul
Dear Colleagues, Esteemed Members of the Press,
Following the press release published after the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping elections held on October 11, 2026, which included allegations directly concerning us, we felt the need to inform the public.
The election results are clear. The final outcome shows that the distribution of the 120 Council members is 61 to 59, with the committees being shared equally. In the face of such a close result, there is no point in trying to create a perception of superiority through different calculations. The will that emerged from the ballot is clear, and everyone must respect this will.
While speaking of respect for the voters' will, presenting the upcoming management election as predetermined is a clear contradiction. We believe this approach aims to influence the upcoming process and affect the preferences of the Council members. No one can preemptively mortgage the free will of the 120 Council members.
The New Route at Sea movement has gained significant support and a strong response within our maritime community in a very short time. The outcome demonstrates how strong the sector's expectation for change and management through common sense is.
Our entire community knows very well that we will not engage in or tolerate any illegality. Nevertheless, we firmly reject the ugly slanders directed against us and reiterate that our sole aim is to protect the interests of our sector. Just as we will never engage in or tolerate any illegality, we will not tolerate any unlawful actions either. We emphasize that we will pursue all necessary legal avenues against baseless claims and slanders targeting our reputation.
We are committed to the principles we have set forth and the promises we have made since the beginning of the election process. We respect the free will of all our Council members and continue to carry our responsibility for the future of our sector with the same determination. As the New Route at Sea movement, our focus is clear: to produce solutions to the problems of our maritime industry, to protect the common interests of our sector, and to build our future together.
We respectfully submit this to the public.
Şadan Kaptanoğlu
CANDIDATE FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF İMEAK CHAMBER OF SHIPPING
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
