Recent judicial decisions in the field of international maritime law not only determine disputes between states but also shape the direction of national legal systems. The reflection of these precedents, which cover various topics from the delimitation of maritime zones to the continental shelf, from freedom of navigation to state responsibility, on Turkish maritime law has not yet been sufficiently discussed. This gap is intended to be filled by an important workshop to be held on January 21, 2026, at the Tuzla Maritime Campus of Piri Reis University.

The study titled 'The Impact of Fundamental Principles Dominating Judicial Decisions on International Maritime Law on Turkish Maritime Law,' conducted under the TÜBİTAK project number 123K801, aims to bring together academic, practical, and public perspectives at the closing workshop. The workshop will directly seek answers to how the fundamental principles shaped by international court and arbitration decisions should be interpreted within Turkish law.

The program will begin with opening speeches reflecting Piri Reis University’s institutional expertise in maritime and maritime law. The opening speeches will be delivered by (R) Admiral Metin Ataç, University Rector Prof. Dr. Nafiz Arıca, Dean of the Faculty of Law Prof. Dr. Ceyda Süral Efeçinar, and Director of the Maritime Law Application and Research Center Prof. Dr. Sezer Ilgın, addressing Turkey's academic capacity in the field of maritime law and its relationship with international precedents.

One of the notable sections of the workshop will be the presentation by invited speaker Prof. Dr. S. Enis Tulça, who will discuss the diplomatic and legal background of Turkish-Greek disputes in the Aegean Sea. Tulça will examine how international maritime law decisions have historically and currently influenced regional disputes. This presentation is expected to shed light on the increasing discussions surrounding maritime zones in recent years.

In the academic session, project coordinator Dr. Instructor Member Sevda Keskin, along with project researchers Research Assistant Şeyma Kuş and Research Assistant Nil İrem Saray Çelikkol, will evaluate the fundamental principles emerging from the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and arbitration decisions from the perspective of Turkish maritime law. This section will particularly focus on the interpretative and guiding effects of international decisions rather than their binding nature concerning Turkish courts.

The panel in the second half of the workshop is expected to be the most anticipated part of the event. Titled 'Current and Potential Issues of Turkish Maritime Law,' the panel will discuss the potential consequences of international precedents on Turkish maritime law legislation and practice. The panel will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Sezer Ilgın. It is planned for (R) Admiral Metin Ataç, Prof. Dr. S. Enis Tulça, Dr. Instructor Member Sevda Keskin, and Director of the National Research Center for Maritime Law at Ankara University Dr. Mustafa Başkara to participate in the panel.

The panel will address issues such as the delimitation of maritime zones, the balance between state practice and judicial decisions, the extent to which Turkish maritime law adapts to international developments, and the legal risks that may arise in the future. It is expected that discussions will particularly highlight practical issues and suggestions for the development of legislation.

In academic circles, this closing workshop is considered not only a project event but also the beginning of a broader discussion regarding Turkish maritime law. The question of how the principles shaped in international maritime law should be interpreted in the context of Turkey will be discussed from various perspectives throughout the workshop and panels.

This event, to be held at Piri Reis University, aims to provide a platform that not only allows academics, practitioners, and students working in the field of maritime law to listen but also challenges them to think critically.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye