International Symposium in Mersin Explores Legal Frameworks for Ports

Mersin · September 3, 2026

The 'Legal Regime of Ports International Symposium,' organized in coordination with the Mersin Chamber of Shipping (MDTO), the National Research Center for Maritime Law of Ankara University (DEHUKAM), and Mersin International Port Operations Inc. (MIP), has commenced in Mersin. The two-day event addresses the current legal agenda of the sector, ranging from port diplomacy to port state control, smart ports to green transformation.

MERSIN – The changing legal regime of ports, which are critical junctions of global trade, has been opened for discussion in Mersin with the participation of representatives from the public sector, academia, and the private sector. During the opening of the symposium held at the Hilton Hotel on September 3-4, 2026, it was emphasized that ports are no longer merely physical facilities where ship and cargo movements occur; they have transformed into strategic areas intersecting sovereignty, trade, safety, environment, energy, technology, and labor.

At the opening, MIP Chief Financial Officer Erdal Tonguç, MDTO Vice Chairman Bedii Canatan, and DEHUKAM Chairman Süleyman Önel spoke. The 26th President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, İsmet Yılmaz, delivered the opening conference. It was announced that Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Durmuş Ünüvar could not attend the symposium due to a last-minute program change; his greetings and best wishes were conveyed to the participants. A message sent by Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer was also read at the opening.

Tonguç: 'Speed and efficiency cannot be considered separately from safety'

MIP Chief Financial Officer Erdal Tonguç stated that ports are perceived from the outside as places filled with cranes, ships, containers, and heavy cargo movements; however, the main element that makes this structure operational is the legal ecosystem composed of rules, authorities, contracts, responsibilities, and international standards.

He noted that beyond being the point where the sea meets land, ports are the intersection of national sovereignty and international trade, public authority and private enterprise, security and economic growth, and environmental responsibility. In light of geopolitical uncertainties and vulnerabilities in supply chains, he remarked that ports are now expected to provide not only rapid service but also crisis-resistant and uninterrupted operations.

Indicating that as digitalization, artificial intelligence, and automation advance, data security, cybersecurity, and operational continuity have also entered the legal agenda, Tonguç said, 'The more we can reduce the distance between technology and law, the more solidly we can establish the transformation into smart ports.' He characterized occupational health and safety as the starting point of port performance, stating, 'Speed and efficiency cannot be considered separately from safety.'

Canatan: Emphasis on law suitable for technological transformation

MDTO Vice Chairman Bedii Canatan described how ports have transformed into strategic centers at the intersection of technology, environmental responsibility, public authority, and international relations. He pointed out that artificial intelligence-supported systems, blockchain applications, autonomous operations, and green transformation have raised questions regarding the applicable law in these new areas of responsibility.

Canatan emphasized that the ports of the future must be designed not only with new technologies but also with the legal understanding required by these technologies. He highlighted the importance of the legal framework in safely implementing innovations. Due to the transnational nature of maritime activities, he stated that international treaties, common standards, and the strengthening of cooperation among port states must be prioritized.

Önel: Port law is a multidisciplinary field of study

DEHUKAM Chairman Süleyman Önel noted that ports, beyond being physical infrastructures, are areas where law, trade, security, technology, environment, and cooperation converge. He expressed that the legal structure to which ports are subject creates a multidisciplinary field of study extending from administrative law to maritime commercial law, environmental law to labor law, and information law.

Önel stated that maritime spatial planning and marine protected areas cannot be considered separately from the future of ports, reminding the audience of the Turkey Marine Spatial Planning Map shared with the public on April 16, 2025. He mentioned that areas such as Fethiye–Kaş and North Aegean Sea National Parks, covering approximately 24,000 square kilometers, have been placed under protection, noting that the balance between conservation and use should be established with regard to navigational freedom and the continuity of maritime transport.

He expressed that the issues faced in maritime activities cannot be resolved through the approach of a single institution, a single discipline, or a single state; thus, information sharing, institutional cooperation, and international dialogue are indispensable.

Yılmaz: 'The cost of legal uncertainty is borne by the entire trade chain'

İsmet Yılmaz, the 26th President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, stated that Turkey is located at the intersection of trade routes between Europe and Asia, and that ports are among the fundamental infrastructures for export and economic development. He noted that port competition does not end at the port gate; it continues to the final destination of the cargo, emphasizing that ports, railways, highways, logistics centers, and customs systems must be planned together.

He stressed that good port law should be based on clear, predictable, transparent, and non-discriminatory rules, stating, 'The cost of legal uncertainty is borne not only by the ship operator but by the entire trade chain.'

Yılmaz pointed out that port state control is not an alternative to flag state responsibility but a complementary safety element, noting that the purpose of control is not to punish ships but to reduce substandard maritime transport, enhance maritime safety, protect the marine environment, and safeguard the rights of seafarers. He indicated that approach channels, navigational aids, pilotage and towing services, hazardous cargo operations, and emergency response capacity are all parts of the same safety system.

He remarked that the ports of the future must be resilient not only in terms of speed but also against natural disasters, cyberattacks, energy outages, and disruptions in supply chains, explaining that the processes of digitalization and decarbonization will reshape the infrastructure, security, training, and responsibility regimes of ports. Calling for balance in regulation, Yılmaz stated, 'Excessive regulation slows down trade; insufficient regulation weakens safety and trust.'

Yılmaz concluded his remarks by stating, 'Strong ports create strong trade; strong law creates trust; and trust is the invisible yet most valuable capital of international maritime trade.'

Eight panels on the present and future of ports

The two-day program consists of eight panels titled 'Maritime Connectivity and Port Diplomacy,' 'General Approach to the Legal Regime of Ports,' 'Leadership in Port Management,' 'Ensuring Maritime Safety and Decent Working Conditions through Port States,' 'The Future of Global Maritime Transport,' 'Legal Implications of Smart Ports,' 'The Importance of Port State Authority and Regional Cooperation,' and 'Green Ports and the Protection of the Marine Environment through Port States.'

The scientific program, which brings together diplomats, legal experts, academics, public administrators, and port operators from different countries, will conclude on September 4. A technical visit to Mersin International Port is planned for participants on September 5, from 10:30 to 12:30.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye