The ITU Maritime Faculty Alumni Association held its 31st Winter Meeting in İzmir, fostering unity and celebrating maritime heritage among alumni.
The 31st Traditional Winter Meeting of the ITU Maritime Faculty Alumni Association (DEFAMED) İzmir Branch was held with wide participation from maritime alumni across Turkey.
Attendees included Capt. Koray Karagöz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ITU Maritime Faculty Alumni Social Assistance Foundation (DEFAV), along with board members Capt. Tayfun Sözer and Eng. A. İlker Meşe. Other notable attendees were Capt. Av. Çağlar Coşkunsu, President of ITU DEFAMED, Prof. Dr. Özcan Arslan, Dean of the ITU Maritime Faculty, Capt. Zafer Akbulut, Chairman of the Turkish Deep-Sea Captains Association, Capt. Arif Bostan, President of TÜRDEF, and Bülent İbik, President of DEFMED, as well as representatives from NGOs and port authorities, accompanied by their families.
This year's gathering successfully achieved its goal of preserving the culture of the ITU Maritime Faculty and reinforcing the spirit of solidarity among alumni.
Throughout the meeting, graduates from various periods experienced the joy of reuniting with friends they had not seen for a long time.
On November 22, the alumni gathered for a gala dinner in the evening. The opening speech at the gala was delivered by Fatih Mehmet Cansever, President of ITU DEFAMED İzmir Branch. In his speech, Cansever expressed pride in being a student and alumnus of the ITU Maritime Faculty, which has guided Turkish Maritime from the past to the present and elevated the Turkish flag in global maritime.
He fondly remembered the esteemed elder, Beybabamız Altay Altuğ, who significantly contributed to İzmir and maritime, referring to the school as having 'fed us, nourished us, and educated us.' Cansever emphasized the motto, 'Together we are strong!' and highlighted that the progress made today is a result of unity and shared vision.
Following Cansever's speech, plaques were presented to sponsoring companies. Members of the İzmir DEFAMED Board of Directors and DEFAMED President Çağlar Coşkunsu were invited to the stage for the ceremony. Afterward, entertainment continued late into the night, accompanied by an orchestra.
The activities continued on November 23, creating an atmosphere akin to a large family reunion, where alumni and their families enjoyed the organization over two days, catching up and refreshing their strong bonds.
During the event, recent developments in the sector were evaluated, and discussions on new project plans, social activities, and support initiatives for young alumni of the DEFAMED İzmir Branch took place. The importance of maintaining traditions that keep the alumni spirit alive was emphasized.
With the awareness that the ITU DEFAMED İzmir Branch will continue to uphold this valuable tradition, strengthening bonds among alumni and carrying maritime culture, solidarity, and unity into the future, the alumni bid farewell, promising to meet again next year.