On the 100th Anniversary of Cabotage: From National Sovereignty at Sea to a Global Maritime Vision

The Cabotage Law, which came into force on July 1, 1926, was a strong declaration of our Republic's sovereign rights at sea and a testament to a nation's loyalty to its struggle for independence. This historic regulation marked not only the nationalization of transportation activities between our coasts but also the beginning of the rise of the Turkish mariner, the Turkish entrepreneur, and the Turkish maritime sector on its own feet.

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the Cabotage Law today, we see that the step taken back then is significant not only as a legal regulation but also as the declaration of a strategic vision that shapes the future century of Turkish maritime.

Over this century, Turkish maritime has undergone a significant transformation. Our sector, once evaluated solely based on coastal transportation capacity, has today evolved into a vast ecosystem encompassing international ship management, coastal shipping, shipbuilding, ship maintenance and repair activities, yacht and superyacht construction, marina management, maritime tourism, cruise operations, technical management, classification and flag inspections, logistics services, and maritime education.

Especially in recent years, the developments in Turkish maritime clearly demonstrate how solid and accurate the national maritime vision that began with the Cabotage Law is.

The Turkish coastal fleet, represented by KOSDER, is one of the important cornerstones of this success. Our coastal vessels, which serve as carriers of regional trade, carry out a critical mission connecting our ports, industry, and foreign trade. Today, with its role in our country's foreign trade and port operations, coastal shipping continues to be one of the most concrete reflections of the spirit of Cabotage in economic life.

As in every sector, the measure of competition, which is a factor that enables development, is not merely owning a ship in maritime. To succeed in this newly shaped era with new rules, it will be essential to invest in a strong educational infrastructure, foster sectoral-academic collaborations, optimize legal standards, ensure the harmonious functioning of operational and technical disciplines, implement regulations compatible with international standards, invest in digitalization and innovation, ensure sustainability in the preservation of qualified human resources, and effectively promote Turkish maritime globally.

As we enter the second century of the Cabotage Law's declaration, our goal is not only to protect our rights at sea but also to transform our country into a nation that sets maritime standards, directs maritime trade, and has a say on a global scale in yachting, shipbuilding, maritime tourism, and transportation.

Because the foundations of the successes we achieve today were laid 100 years ago with the Cabotage Law. Our next task is to preserve this legacy and carry it further, making our country a maritime nation that not only exists in the Blue Homeland but also produces value and leads.

While celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Cabotage Law, I respectfully commemorate Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades, and I congratulate all stakeholders of Turkish maritime on Cabotage Day.

Neslihan Torlak Gönençer

Chairperson

Association of Coastal Shipowners and Operators

Source: SeaNews Türkiye