Lockton and Omni Celebrate Maritime Heritage at 2026 Gala Event

One of the significant gatherings in the marine insurance sector, the Lockton | Omni Party 2026, was held on the evening of September 17, Thursday, at Rixos Tersane – Taşkızak.

The party, hosted by Lockton and Omni, saw the participation of numerous professionals from the marine insurance and maritime sectors. In the historical atmosphere of Tersane-i Âmire, guests enjoyed a pleasant time accompanied by industry discussions, while the entertainment continued throughout the night, enriched by music and dance performances. Lockton Omni Board Chairman Korkut Omur and Lockton Omni Honorary Chairman Aret Taşcıyan welcomed the guests during the evening. On this special night, where representatives from different areas of the maritime sector came together, Aret Taşcıyan expressed his gratitude to the attendees in his speech and provided a heartfelt narrative about the history of the historical venue where the event took place.

“After all these years, I believe I have earned the right to call this a traditional event, haven’t I?”

Starting his speech by requesting a brief pause in the music broadcast, Aret Taşcıyan addressed the guests: “It is a great privilege for me to host you at this traditional Lockton event. I think after all these years, I have earned the right to call this a ‘traditional event,’ haven’t I?” Taşcıyan noted that Alistair River and Oliver Hutchins from the London headquarters could not be present due to another Lockton event and mentioned that his colleague Ebru would soon address the welcome and the official part of the event. He expressed his desire to hold the microphone for a few more minutes to take the guests back in time, continuing his speech by highlighting the history of the venue where the event was held.

“The investors behind this venue have brought one of the most important maritime legacies of the Ottoman Empire together with modern life in the heart of Istanbul.”

Taşcıyan referred to the approximately 600-year history of the area, explaining that after the conquest of Istanbul, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror established a new shipyard on the site of the old Byzantine shipyard's slipways, and the Ottoman Empire's Tersane-i Âmire developed here. Emphasizing the importance of Tersane-i Âmire in Ottoman maritime history, Taşcıyan continued: “Those from Turkey know this name very well: Tersane-i Âmire.”

“Yes, the very place we are currently standing is the area where Tersane-i Âmire, which served two great empires, the Byzantine and the Ottoman, with a history of over a thousand years, is located.”

Taşcıyan pointed out that the shipyard developed alongside the Ottoman sultans and shared the empire's fate, stating, “When the empire rose, the shipyard developed; when the empire declined, the shipyard stagnated.” He described how Tersane-i Âmire experienced one of its brightest periods during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, stating that it was one of the largest shipbuilding centers in the Mediterranean at that time.

Taşcıyan noted that the large shipyard complex, which included a torpedo factory, a propeller foundry, ship slipways, and various facilities, was not just a production area, but also included schools, banks, factories, and a hospital as parts of this ecosystem.

At the end of his speech, Taşcıyan thanked the guests and expressed his gratitude to the entire team, especially Merve, Karen, and Zeynep Hanımlar, who contributed to the organization. Aret Taşcıyan also reminded the attendees about the charity walk organized the next day in Belgrad Forest with WISTA Turkey, inviting them to participate in the social responsibility event.

Following the speech, which garnered great interest with its heartfelt narrative, the Lockton | Omni Party 2026 continued with music and dance.

Representatives of the maritime sector experienced a special night where conversations, friendships, and entertainment came together in the historical atmosphere of Tersane-i Âmire.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye