Düzgit: “Know your job well, keep your word...

“We will know our job well, we will keep our word, we will continue to take the sea seriously.”

Recep Düzgit, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping and a candidate for the Chairman of the Board of Directors in the Chamber elections on October 11, 2026, met with sector representatives at the member meeting held in Istanbul; He shared the achievements of the work carried out with the understanding of "All of Us Room" for eight years and the priorities of the coming period. Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Board of Directors Tamer Kıran stated that he was not a candidate again and talked about his collaboration with Düzgit for more than eight years.

Recep Düzgit, who started his speech at the "Viya Bo" breakfast meeting by emphasizing the Blue Homeland and commemorating Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, thanked all the presidents, administrations and assemblies who have contributed to the Chamber so far.

In his speeches, Recep Düzgit stated that he understood the meaning of his father's advice, "Know your job well, keep your word, take the sea seriously" when he was 15 years old while preparing provisions for ships sailing in the Bosphorus, and stated that he tried to keep this principle alive in every aspect of his life and that he considered it his duty to pass it on to his children. Düzgit also stated that the resources of the Chamber, strengthened by financial discipline, return to serve the members and that they will prioritize digitalization, legislative studies and investments in line with the needs of the sector in the new period.

“Strong equity is not bragging rights; it means being able to stand behind its word.”

Emphasizing that the resources accumulated through financial discipline return as a service to the members, Düzgit said that in eight years, the Chamber's assets increased from 17.5 million dollars to 40 million dollars, and its budget increased from 24 million dollars to 36.5 million dollars; He said that a service building will be added to the Karadeniz Ereğli Branch, thus the number of branches and representative buildings owned by the Chamber will increase to seven.

Stating that the number of students at Piri Reis University reached 7,237 today, while it was 3,836 in 2018, and that 7,334 graduates have been given so far this year, Düzgit said, "Strong equity is not a boast; it means a Chamber that can stand behind its word."

Referring to the discussions regarding the chamber's legislative work, Düzgit said that when an issue concerning maritime comes before the public, the knowledge coming from the profession should also be at that table. Emphasizing that working in harmony with the state yields results, Düzgit said, "This Chamber knows what it is doing: it knows the process, it knows its addressee, it knows the procedure."

“We will neither give up protecting the environment nor allow our members to be crushed under these conditions.”

Stating that green transformation will create a serious cost element in the coming period, Düzgit said, "Protecting the sea, protecting the environment, and not destroying nature are not open to discussion for us." He stated that they will not stand by while green transformation compliance costs are turned into an element of unfair competition: "We will neither give up protecting the environment nor allow our members to be crushed under these conditions. (...) Changing conditions does not change the direction, but the measures."

"The duty of a vice chairman of the board of directors is not only to attend meetings, but also to share the responsibility and burden in times of need. I have seen such close work from my brother Recep Düzgit."

İMEAK DTO Chairman of the Board of Directors Tamer Kıran also attended the meeting. Speaking at the podium, Kıran said that his decision not to run again for the position he held for two terms was compatible with the Chamber's understanding of institutionalism and sustainability.

Explaining that he and Recep Düzgit, with whom he has been working for more than eight years, sat at the same table and looked for solutions together during periods when pandemics, earthquakes, wars and regional security problems affected maritime trade, Kıran said, "The duty of a vice chairman of the board of directors is not only to attend meetings, but also to share the responsibility and burden in times of need. I have seen such close work from my brother Recep Düzgit." Stating that he witnessed Düzgit getting to know the management approach and work culture he was in for two terms, Kıran reminded that he was a candidate for the Presidency of the Parliament; He said that he believed that the elections would be completed with a maturity, mutual respect and democratic understanding that befits the culture of the Chamber. Among the priorities listed by Recep Düzgit for the coming period are an accessible and accessible Chamber with digitalization and artificial intelligence models; a Chamber that is accountable and able to call to account; There was a Chamber that strengthened its branches and spent its budget on its strategy.

Among the things to be done for the sector, he listed the tonnage tax law, advantageous tariffs for Turkish flagged ships, updating the Maritime Labor Law, the Maritime Specialization Department within a public bank, the more effective operation of 48 professional committees, and the development of the Legislation Development and Legal Unit. Düzgit particularly highlighted two important projects: a modern dormitory building for Piri Reis University and a Chamber of Shipping Central Campus that will meet the 2050 needs of the sector. Düzgit said, “These are not promises, but the needs of the sector.

"Our method is clear: Precaution, team and follow-up," he said. Inviting the members to protect their professional rights and common achievements, Düzgit concluded his speech with the motto he learned from his father: "We will know our job well, we will keep our word, we will continue to take the sea seriously. VIYA IS LIKE THIS"

Source: SeaNews Türkiye