Experts gather in Mersin to explore the evolving legal framework of ports, addressing maritime safety, technology, and environmental challenges.
The Changing Legal Regime of Ports Discussed in Mersin
The significant transformation and changing legal status of ports, which are one of the fundamental elements of global trade, were evaluated in Mersin with the participation of international experts.
Hosted by the Mersin Chamber of Shipping (MDTO) and organized in collaboration with the Ankara University National Research Center for Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) and Mersin International Port (MIP), the 'International Symposium on the Legal Regime of Ports' commenced on September 3 in Mersin. The organization brought together national and international academics, representatives of public institutions, diplomatic missions, and leading figures in the maritime sector, addressing a wide range of topics from the legal status of ports to smart ports, maritime safety, and green transformation.
Maritime Safety and New Legal Obligations
In the opening of the symposium, İsmet Yılmaz, the 26th President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, DEHUKAM Board Chairman Süleyman Önel, MDTO Vice Chairman Bedii Canatan, and MIP Financial Director Erdal Tonguç expressed their condolences for those who lost their lives in recent maritime accidents in Kyrenia and Marmara. The event highlighted the critical importance of maritime safety in terms of human life.
In his keynote speech, Yılmaz evaluated the changing role of ports in global trade and the future of maritime law. He stated that a predictable and inclusive legal framework is no longer an option but a necessity for the sustainable continuation of international maritime trade, emphasizing that port law stands at the intersection of state sovereignty and free trade. Yılmaz also noted that flag state inspections alone are insufficient in maritime safety, and that port state inspections have become a complementary security element. He underscored that the primary aim here is not to penalize ships but to protect the marine environment by preventing substandard transportation and to avoid unfair competition.
Yılmaz also allocated significant time in his speech to technological developments, stating that ports must rapidly acquire new generation fuel infrastructures such as methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia in line with the International Maritime Organization's net-zero emission targets, while also highlighting the need for balanced legal regulations that keep pace with innovations such as blockchain and artificial intelligence.
The Strategic Vision of Ports and Sectoral Responsibilities
Süleyman Önel, Chairman of the DEHUKAM Board, focused on the strategic vision of ports in his speech. He stated that ports have transformed far beyond being mere physical infrastructure facilities into multidimensional centers where trade, security, technology, and the environment intersect, emphasizing that the reduction of carbon emissions and green port practices shape the future of maritime activities. Önel pointed out the profound changes brought about by autonomous ships and the smart port concept, asserting that a new legal approach is necessary to balance national sovereignty powers with international obligations. He also referred to Turkey's environmental vision, sharing with participants that the Turkey Marine Spatial Planning Map published in April 2025 and the first marine national parks announced in the Northern Aegean in August 2026 are extremely strong and concrete steps towards ecosystem protection.
Bedii Canatan, Vice Chairman of the Mersin Chamber of Shipping, noted that the technical topics discussed at the symposium are directly influential elements in the daily functioning of global trade. He stated that regardless of how advanced technology becomes, a solid legal foundation is a fundamental requirement for safe maritime trade, and raised critical questions facing the sector. He emphasized issues such as who would be responsible in the event of an accident at smart ports, how damages caused by autonomous systems would be resolved under which rules, which country's laws would be applicable in digital transactions, and how green transformation obligations would be monitored, highlighting these as pressing matters in the maritime agenda.
MIP Financial Director Erdal Tonguç explained that ports today harbor very complex legal ecosystems where national sovereignty, public authority, and private operation intersect. He reminded that Mersin is an extremely vibrant and strategic trade center connecting production areas to global markets, emphasizing the value of organizing such an event addressing legal and operational transformation in Mersin.
Maritime Connectivity and Port Diplomacy
The first panel of the symposium, titled 'Maritime Connectivity and Port Diplomacy,' was moderated by Ambassador Suat Hayri Aka. The panel discussed the role of ports in international trade and diplomatic relations. Moderator Aka conveyed that maritime activities inherently possess an international structure and that ports are the most concrete points where global trade intersects with national jurisdiction.
Aka expressed that port diplomacy is based on common legal standards, predictability, and mutual trust rather than political rhetoric, and then handed the floor to international representatives. The Ambassador of Malaysia to Ankara, Adlan Bin Mohd Shaffieq, highlighted the historical significance of the Strait of Malacca and emphasized the importance of neutral and open sea routes. He noted that they are focusing on digital single window systems and sustainable ports beyond physical infrastructure, presenting the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone as a successful example of connectivity.
In the same session, Singapore's Ambassador to Ankara, Li Peng Kok, explained that his country serves as a key economic diplomacy platform as a responsible flag and port state. He stated that international trust can only be ensured through transparent and consistent regulatory rules, emphasizing that the protection of transit passage rights in the Malacca and Singapore straits and the rules-based UN Convention on the Law of the Sea regime is indispensable.
Juan Jaime Delvalle, the Consul General of Panama in Istanbul, addressed the successful management and increasing capacity of the Panama Canal since 1999. He expressed that the greatest strategic threat to the canal, which serves over 13,000 vessels annually, is global warming and climate change, adding that resilience infrastructure is vital for operational continuity.
In the later hours of the day, other panels evaluated current issues such as the legal framework of maritime activities, the international status of civil ports, the situation of abandoned seafarers, and wreck removal contracts.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
