Global Risks Discussed at IMAK DTO Assembly Meeting

The March Assembly Meeting of the Istanbul and Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Sea Regions (İMEAK) Chamber of Shipping (DTO) was held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in the Chamber Assembly Hall.

During the meeting, chaired by İMEAK DTO Assembly President Başaran Bayrak, the Chamber's 2025 Balance Sheet and Final Accounts were approved.

In his speech, İMEAK Chamber of Shipping Board Chairman Tamer Kıran thanked the Assembly members for the approval of the balance sheet and final accounts.

Evaluating current developments, Tamer Kıran stated that the most significant event affecting the global economy and Turkey in March was the war initiated by the USA and Israel against Iran as of February 28, saying:

"However, just as attention was focused on this region, we learned with concern and sadness about the attack on a Turkish-owned tanker carrying 140,000 tons of crude oil, which is estimated to have been carried out by an unmanned sea vehicle, approximately 15 miles off the Istanbul Strait today. Thankfully, the fact that there were no injuries among the crew, which consists of Turkish personnel, has been our greatest consolation."

Tamer Kıran extended his best wishes to the ship's crew and owner, stating, "This incident, occurring near a strategically important waterway like the Istanbul Strait, is a development that must be handled with utmost care regarding the safety of maritime trade, navigation safety, and environmental sensitivities. We have full confidence that the relevant institutions of our state will evaluate the incident comprehensively and meticulously, and that necessary measures will be taken swiftly."

Kıran expressed that the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the significant closure of the Strait of Hormuz have lowered global growth expectations and revised inflation forecasts upward, emphasizing that these developments have made the risk of stagflation a major agenda item for the global economy.

Pointing out that the conflict occurring in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil trade passes, has led to much deeper impacts, Tamer Kıran stated that the supply issues arising particularly in petrochemicals and derivative products have increased pressure on production and trade due to a chain reaction.

Stating that the uncertainty created by the war affects not only industry and agriculture but also the services sector, Tamer Kıran noted that the global loss of confidence is pulling down tourism demand, and the contraction in tourism, one of the world's most important export items, has become an additional risk factor for growth.

Referring to the announcement made by US President Trump at the beginning of the week about having positive talks with Iran and the decision to halt attacks on energy facilities for five days, Kıran mentioned that this created limited optimism in the markets while pulling oil prices to around $100. He added, "However, the coming days are critically important in terms of the course of the war. If conflicts continue and the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, the risk of stagflation will inevitably increase."

In his evaluations regarding the Turkish economy, Kıran indicated that the Central Bank continues its tight monetary policy stance, stating, "Although the war in the Middle East has short-term negative effects on our economy, the increasing regional risks have the potential to increase Turkey's attractiveness in the medium term. In this context, it is of great importance to implement policies that will improve the investment environment."

Tamer Kıran regarded Turkey's inclusion in the "Made in Europe" scope as a positive development, stating, "We welcome the resolution of this issue, which could pose a serious risk of competitive loss for many of our sectors, especially the automotive sector. However, I would like to emphasize that this process is not automatic, and we must not overlook the fact that the European Union continuously updates product standards and that similar risks could re-emerge if rapid adaptation to these changes is not achieved."

Developments in the Strait of Hormuz have raised significant concerns in the maritime sector, Kıran noted, stating that the number of ships passing through the strait has decreased by approximately 95% compared to before the conflict.

Tamer Kıran said, "While these developments in the energy market keep tanker freight rates strong, a limited increase is observed in container freight rates. The bulk cargo market, however, currently presents a more stagnant outlook. Overall, the impact of the conflict on freight markets has fallen short of expectations, and levels have remained significantly below the peaks seen during the pandemic."

Kıran also added that despite all uncertainties, global maritime transportation is expected to grow by 1.4% in 2026, reaching 13.1 billion tons.

Ship Agency Training

During the meeting, Tamer Kıran shared important developments related to the sector, announcing that following requests from members, it has been decided to reorganize the "Ship Agency Renewal Trainings," the last of which was held on December 22, 2025, as a result of initiatives made with the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs.

Kıran stated that in this context, physical participation renewal trainings will be held simultaneously at our Istanbul Headquarters and İskenderun Branch on April 6, 2026, and at our İzmir and Karadeniz Ereğli Branches on April 20, 2026.

Providing information about the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and the EU Ports Strategy published by the European Commission on March 4, aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Europe's maritime industry and accelerating the green and digital transformation of ports, Tamer Kıran emphasized, "Considering our strong trade relations with the European Union and our level of inter-sectoral integration, it is of great importance to closely follow the opportunities presented by these strategies and to maximize the benefits for our maritime sector during this transformation process."

DTO Mobile Application Launched

Tamer Kıran announced that the mobile application developed within the framework of İMEAK Chamber of Shipping's digitalization vision has been launched under the name "İMEAK Chamber of Shipping" in the Apple and Android stores, stating:

"This is not just software; it will be a communication service that further strengthens the bond between our Chamber and our members in the digital world. Our members will be able to download the application to their mobile phones and other devices and log into the system with their existing user information; access their membership information, and carry out their transactions quickly and securely. Additionally, circulars and announcements will be delivered directly to mobile devices via instant notifications. At this point, I would like to especially remind our members that it is important for those with deficiencies or errors in their registration, tax number, or email information in the system records to contact our registration unit. I believe this application will make our communication with our members stronger, faster, and more accessible, and I wish it to be beneficial for our community."

22,000 Saplings to be Planted for the Maritime Memorial Forest

Sharing an important project within the scope of environmental responsibilities, Tamer Kıran announced that 22,000 saplings will be planted on Sunday, April 19, 2026, in the Çekmeköy Şile Road area of Istanbul.

He stated that they have invited the chairpersons of the boards of directors of 43 supporting organizations that make up the maritime sector, along with their families, to the sapling planting ceremony named "Maritime Memorial Forest," and that a sapling will be planted in symbolic representation for each of the 43 supporting organizations. Tamer Kıran said, "In this way, we aim to preserve both the unity of our sector and the names of our valuable 43 sector stakeholders as a legacy for future generations in this forest."

Kıran also announced that the Ordinary Financial General Assembly Meeting of the Turkish Maritime Education Foundation (TÜDEV) will be held on Thursday, April 30, at 10:30 AM, followed by the April Assembly and the 8th Joint Professional Committees Meetings at the TÜDEV Maritime Education Center Conference Hall in Tuzla starting at 1:30 PM.

During the meeting, journalist Metehan Demir gave a presentation on "The Effects of the War on Turkey, Risks and Opportunities – Risks of Turning into a World War."

Source: SeaNews Türkiye