Turkey's first LNG-powered container ship, KAŞİF KALKAVAN, makes its inaugural call at Marport, marking a milestone for Turkon Line.
Turkey's first LNG-powered container ship, KAŞİF KALKAVAN, makes its first call at Marport.
The new container ship, KAŞİF KALKAVAN, with a capacity of 4,000 TEU, belongs to the Turkon Line fleet and has made its inaugural port call at Marport. The 200-meter-long vessel, built at Sedef Shipyard, is being introduced as the first and largest LNG-fueled container ship constructed in Turkey.
KAŞİF KALKAVAN, one of the next-generation projects of the Turkish maritime and shipbuilding industry, made its first commercial port call at the Marport Container Terminal in Istanbul Ambarlı.
Marport announced that the first call of Turkon Line's new vessel at the terminal marks a new phase in the long-term collaboration between the two companies.
KAŞİF KALKAVAN was constructed at Sedef Shipyard, which is part of Turkon Holding, and was delivered in 2026. The ship has a capacity to carry 4,000 TEU containers. With a length of approximately 200 meters and a width of 37.5 meters, the vessel has a gross tonnage of 40,888. KAŞİF KALKAVAN operates under the flag of the Marshall Islands.
It has been reported that the ship is designed to operate with a total of five different fuel types, including LNG. Turkon Line states that this design will provide operational flexibility according to fuel availability in different ports and will help reduce the fleet's emissions.
KAŞİF KALKAVAN is described as the first and largest LNG-fueled container ship built in Turkey to date. The construction of a sister ship with the same dimensions is also ongoing at Sedef Shipyard.
While the ability of the vessel to use LNG is an important technical capability, the term 'zero-emission ship' should not be used in news articles regarding KAŞİF KALKAVAN. The company statement does not make such a claim; instead, it emphasizes lower emissions and operational flexibility through LNG and alternative fuel capabilities.
The ability to operate with five different fuels is noteworthy in terms of the ship's adaptability to changing fuel prices and environmental regulations without being dependent on a specific fuel. However, actual environmental performance will depend on factors such as the voyage profile, the fuel used, engine load, methane slip, and energy efficiency.
The first call of KAŞİF KALKAVAN at Marport should not be seen merely as the arrival of a new ship at the port. The project also showcases the technical level achieved by Turkish shipyards in the LNG-fueled commercial ship market, which has previously been largely dominated by shipyards in the Far East.
The regular service schedule of the container ship, fuel consumption, LNG supply model, and performance during the initial operating period will be key indicators of the project's commercial success. The design, fuel accounting at sea, and punctual port schedule will be tested successfully at the shipyard.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
