Captain Mustafa Can garners strong maritime support at İTO elections, highlighting unity in the sector.
Maritime Solidarity in İTO Elections: Strong Support for Captain Mustafa Can
The İTO professional committee and council member elections, which began at the Istanbul Fair Center, brought together many prominent figures from the maritime world. Shipowners, executives from industry organizations, and representatives of the maritime community gathered at the fairgrounds to support İTO Presidential Candidate Captain Mustafa Can. Can expressed his gratitude to the sector for their unwavering support through DenizHaber.com.
Voting has commenced in the elections that will determine the new term professional committees and council members of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO). The elections, held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Istanbul Fair Center, highlighted the maritime sector's support for Captain Mustafa Can.
Among the industry members who came to the fairgrounds to support Can, who is running for the presidency of İTO, were well-known figures from maritime trade, the shipowning community, professional organizations, and maritime law. Can's campaign, which called on seafarers to participate in the elections, continued on election day with visits of support from sector representatives.
Thank You from Mustafa Can via DenizHaber
On election day, Captain Mustafa Can conveyed his thanks to the maritime community that supported him through DenizHaber.com. Can's message of gratitude included those who came to the Istanbul Fair Center to stand by him and the seafarers who provided support during the election process.
Can emphasized strengthening the representation of the maritime sector in İTO as one of the key points of his candidacy, and in his pre-election statements, he had invited sector members to act together.
Prominent Figures from the Maritime World at the Fairgrounds
Among those who came to the Istanbul Fair Center to support Captain Mustafa Can were former Chairman of the Board of İMEAK Chamber of Shipping Metin Kalkavan, Chairman of the Turkish Shipowners' Association Cihan Ergenç, and former Council Chairman of İMEAK DTO Salih Zeki Çakır and Sina Şen.
Shipowner Alev Tunç, Kenan Türkantos, shipowner Çetin Güneş, and ONURSAN Board Chairman Yılmaz Onur were also among those who came to the fairgrounds to show their support.
Former President of the Association of Coastal Shipowners and Operators (KOSDER) Hakan Çendik, attorney Selçuk Esenyel, who works in maritime trade law, and President of the Maritime Safety Association Dr. Cahit İstikbal were also among the sector representatives supporting Mustafa Can on election day.
Photos shared from the election area also highlighted the blue scarves and ties that represent Can's campaign color. The meetings of maritime community members at the fairgrounds are reflected in images from election day.
“Let’s Bring a Mariner to the Head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce”
In a video message released before the elections, Mustafa Can addressed seafarers, emphasizing the importance of participation in the İTO elections. Calling on sector members who are members of both the Chamber of Shipping and the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Can stated:
“Let’s bring a mariner to the head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. I will continue to serve seafarers.”
Can noted that they have been working intensively during the candidacy process and mentioned that they are acting together with six seafarers; in his message, he requested support for maritime candidates from professional committees numbered 54, 24, and 69.
One of the prominent messages in Can's pre-election call was “Let’s fill the ballot boxes.” Associating the blue color of his campaign with maritime, Can addressed sector members with the words, “Why is our color blue? The seas are blue, so our color has become blue.”
Goal of Cooperation Between İTO and DTO
In Can's statements, the representation of the maritime sector in İTO and the working relationship between the two chambers also stand out.
Stating that he would continue to serve seafarers if elected as president of İTO, Can expressed his aim for the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Shipping to work together in the maritime field. He mentioned that they want to demonstrate to the world the results that could arise from an efficient collaboration between the two institutions.
The support of sector representatives who came to the fairgrounds on election day followed these messages from Can directed at the maritime community.
Voting Will Continue Until 17:00
According to İTO's official election schedule, the elections for professional committees and council members covering 80 professional groups are being held in halls 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the Istanbul Fair Center. Voting began at 08:00 and will continue until 17:00.
With today's elections, the new term structure of the professional committees and the chamber council will be determined. The election of the İTO Board Chairman and other governing bodies will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, between 09:00 and 12:00 in the İTO Council Hall.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
