Captain Berdan Doğan Takes Helm at MDTO After 37 Years of Leadership

Captain Berdan Doğan Takes Helm at MDTO After 37 Years of Leadership

The management for the 2026–2030 term has been determined at the Mersin Chamber of Shipping (MDTO). Captain Berdan Doğan, elected as the Chairman of the Board, took over the position from Cihat Lokmanoğlu. The new management aims to strengthen communication with members, produce solutions to the sector's problems, and enhance the contribution of Mersin's maritime potential to the city's economy.

The organizational elections held at the Mersin Chamber of Shipping (MDTO) marked a significant management change in the institution's history. Following Cihat Lokmanoğlu, who served since the establishment of the chamber in 1989 and held the position of Chairman of the Board, Captain Berdan Doğan was elected as the new president. Thus, a new management era has begun at MDTO after approximately 37 years of leadership.

The election schedule began with the determination of members who will serve in 11 professional committees on October 7, 2026. In the phase of the process on October 14, new council members gathered at the MDTO service building to vote for the chairman of the board, the main and alternate members of the board of directors, delegates of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), and members of the disciplinary board. As a result of the voting, Doğan became the new chairman of the board.

The board of directors that will serve during the 2026–2030 term under Doğan's presidency includes Bekir Yıldız, Ertuğ Kemal Yılmaz, Göksel Hallaç, Rabia Demir, Metin Özdemir, and Mehmet Özkan. After the elections, Doğan thanked the members and stated that they would work in coordination with council members for the development of Mersin's maritime sector and the city's economy.

Following the determination of the board of directors, the distribution of duties within the council was also completed. Sabit Ahmetler was elected as the Chairman of the MDTO Council, while Alkaan Sevim and Ahmet Yılmaz took on the roles of council vice-chairmen. Remzi Murat Neyiğit was appointed as the council secretary member. Thus, the council presidency, which will work alongside the board of directors in the new term, has also been shaped.

In his statements regarding the new term, Doğan prioritized member communication and expressed the desire to directly listen to the needs of businesses operating in different areas of the maritime sector. He emphasized the importance of members being able to comfortably share the problems they face with the chamber and stated that they would consult with relevant institutions for solutions.

Among the goals announced by Doğan is to ensure that Mersin's strength in maritime trade is more reflected in local businesses and the employment of youth. Doğan, who wants to strengthen communication between shipowners, shipping agents, ship suppliers, and educational institutions, stated that they aim to announce the demands of different segments of the sector more robustly. He emphasized that the work inherited from previous administrations in the fields of education and social responsibility would be preserved and developed.

The handover ceremony held at the chamber's service building after the elections was attended by board members and the chamber secretariat. Doğan, who took over the presidency, thanked Lokmanoğlu for his contributions to the institution and the maritime sector. In his speech at the ceremony, Doğan stated, 'We will carry our sector to brighter tomorrows in unity and solidarity with all our stakeholders.'

Lokmanoğlu expressed his gratitude to the board members and chamber staff he worked with during his term and wished success to the new administration. He noted that Doğan is someone who comes from within the maritime sector and knows the field closely, expressing his belief that the new team will carry out beneficial work for Mersin and the sector. At the end of the ceremony, a plaque was presented to Lokmanoğlu in honor of his services.

The MDTO, which the new administration has taken over, was established on March 13, 1989. The chamber operates as a public institution with the aim of meeting the common needs of its members, facilitating their professional activities, and contributing to the development of the maritime sector. The institution's activities encompass not only sectoral services but also initiatives that support education and social life.

Maritime education is among the areas that the chamber has supported historically. The Mersin Chamber of Shipping Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, completed by MDTO, was delivered to the Ministry of National Education with educational equipment and opened for service in the 2009–2010 academic year. Doğan's statements regarding the development of educational accumulation and support for youth employment are significant in conjunction with these institutional efforts aimed to be continued in the new term.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye