The Ship, Yacht and Services Exporters Association (GYHİB) rewarded the successful companies in the sector that achieved a record export of 2 billion 243 million dollars in 2025.

At the 'Award on Water' Successful Exporters Award Ceremony held at the TİM Foreign Trade Complex, companies that ranked in the top three in seven sub-sectors and exporters who made it to the top 10 in the overall ranking received their awards. The 'Award on Water' Ship, Yacht and Services Sector 2025 Successful Exporters Award Ceremony, organized by the Ship, Yacht and Services Exporters Association (GYHİB), took place at the TİM Foreign Trade Complex.

The award ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Durmuş Ünüvar, General Director of Shipyards and Coastal Structures at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Salih Tan, General Director of Coastal Safety Mustafa Bankaoğlu, TİM President Mustafa Gültepe, Chair of the Assembly of the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping (DTO) Başaran Bayrak, GYHİB President Mustafa Talha Pepe and Board Members, Coordinator President of Istanbul Exporters' Associations (İİB) and President of the Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters' Association Erkan Özkan, President of Yalova-Altınova Shipyard Entrepreneurs Industry and Trade Inc. (YATGİAŞ) Şükrü Fazıl Uzun, and President of TURMEPA Şadan Kaptanoğlu.

In the ceremony, where the names of the top three companies in the categories of Fishing Vessels, Yachts over 24 Meters, Yachts under 24 Meters, Tugs, Cargo Ships and Other Marine Vehicles, Ferries and Passenger Ships, and Sub-Industry were announced, a total of 31 awards were presented.

Deputy Minister Ünüvar: 'Our Shipyards Are Now Innovation Centers'

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Durmuş Ünüvar emphasized that the Turkish maritime sector achieved a historic record in 2025 with a 17.38% increase compared to the previous year. He stated that the ship and yacht sector is the second highest in export growth among all sectors in Turkey and the first among industrial sectors, noting that this success is not only numerical but also the result of sustainable production, domestic design, and advanced technology capabilities. Ünüvar pointed out that Turkish shipyards have now become not only production points but also centers of design and innovation, highlighting that high value-added systems and technologies are being exported. He stated that despite global challenges, this success achieved through engineering strength has further strengthened Turkey's position in maritime.

Gültepe: 'We Are Among the Top 10 Countries in Ship and Yacht Exports'

Mustafa Gültepe, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), stated that the sector has exceeded Turkey's overall export average with a 1.5% share of global trade, mentioning that Turkey has entered the top 10 countries in the world for ship and yacht exports. He emphasized that the sector is the world leader in fishing vessel exports and one of the top four countries in tugboat exports, noting that with increasing production capacity and new investments, the sector has the potential to achieve 3.5 billion dollars in exports in the short term.

The sector reached 2 billion 243 million dollars in exports in 2025.

Mustafa Talha Pepe, Chairman of the GYHİB Board, stated in his speech that the sector broke a record with 2 billion 243 million dollars in exports in 2025, adding that this figure does not include exports of defense-related vessels, repair and maintenance services, and exports from free zones. Pepe expressed that this success is backed by the sector's high engineering capability, qualified workforce, and flexible production structure. He emphasized that Turkey has become a significant player globally, especially in the production of fishing vessels, tugs, and mega yachts, noting that Turkish companies quickly adapt to global regulations in boat types requiring project-specific production and achieve high standards in customer satisfaction.

Pepe: Support mechanisms should be strengthened for the sustainable growth of the sector.

Pepe indicated that the awarded companies represent not only their own success but also the collective success of the sector, drawing attention to the increasingly challenging global competitive conditions.

The GYHİB President continued his remarks: 'Global competitive conditions are becoming increasingly difficult, especially due to the pressure created by the current exchange rate and inflation gap; we are facing significant challenges in price competitiveness. At this point, our sector continues on its path by maintaining competitive advantages such as quality, speed, flexibility, and engineering strength. However, it is crucial to support our sector for the sustainability of current successes and to break new records, as well as to implement certain structural regulations. Strengthening support mechanisms similar to those provided for ship and yacht construction in competitor countries is a critical need for the future of our sector. We continue to voice these needs on all relevant platforms and to produce solutions on behalf of our sector.'

Sefine Maritime Shipbuilding became the export leader in 2025.

In the total exports of the association in 2025, Sefine Maritime Shipbuilding took first place, followed by Sanmar Maritime in second and Med Marine in third.

Cemre Shipyard, Cemre Marin, Bilgin Yachting, Sirena Marine, Tersan Shipbuilding, Numarine, and HAT-SAN Shipbuilding Maintenance Repair were among the companies with the highest exports.

Looking at the sub-sectors; in 2025, Sefine Maritime Shipbuilding was the leader in the Fishing Vessel export category; in the Tugboat export category, Sanmar Maritime; in the Yachts over 24 Meters export category, Bilgin Yachting; in the Yachts under 24 Meters export category, Sirena Marine; in the Ferries and Passenger Ships export category, Cemre Shipyard; in the Cargo Ships and Other Marine Vehicles export category, Cemre Marin; and in the Sub-Industry Export Category, DATA Hydraulic Machinery was at the top.

Overall Export Ranking of the Association (Top 10) 2025

1 SEFİNE DENİZCİLİK TERSANECİLİK TURİZM SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

2 SANMAR DENİZCİLİK MAKİNA VE TİC.A.Ş.

3 MED MARİNE KILAVUZLUK VE RÖMORKÖR HİZMETLERİ İNŞ.SAN.VE TİC.A.Ş.

4 CEMRE TERSANESİ GEMİ İNŞAA SAN.A.Ş.

5 CEMRE MARİN ENDÜSTRİ A.Ş

6 BILGIN YATÇILIK VE TURIZM IŞL. TIC.LTD.ŞTI.

7 SİRENA MARİNE DENİZCİLİK SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

8 TERSAN TERSANECİLİK SAN.VE TİC.A.Ş

9 NUMARINE TIC.LTD.ŞTI.

10 HAT-SAN GEMİ İNŞAA BAKIM ONARIM DENİZ NAKLİYAT SAN.TİC A.Ş.

Fishing Vessel Export Ranking 2025

2 ÖZATA TERSANECİLİK SAN.VE TIC.A.Ş.

3 COMPANY REQUESTING NOT TO BE NAMED

Yachts over 24 Meters Export Ranking 2025

1 BILGIN YATÇILIK VE TURIZM IŞL. TIC.LTD.ŞTI.

2 NUMARINE TIC.LTD.ŞTI.

3 MENGİ-YAY YATÇILIK TURİZM SAN. VE TİC.A.Ş.

Yachts under 24 Meters Export Ranking 2025

1 SİRENA MARINE DENİZCİLİK SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

2 VİSİONF YATÇILIK A.Ş

3 TELGEREN YATÇILIK SAN. VE DIŞ TİC. AŞ.

Tugboat Export Ranking 2025

1 SANMAR DENİZCİLİK MAKİNA VE TİC.A.Ş.

2 MED MARİNE KILAVUZLUK VE RÖMORKÖR HİZMETLERİ İNŞ.SAN.VE TİC.A.Ş.

3 BOĞAZIÇI DENIZCILIK SAN.VE TICARET A.S

Cargo Ships and Other Marine Vehicles Export Ranking 2025

1 CEMRE MARİN ENDÜSTRİ A.Ş

2 TERSAN TERSANECİLİK SAN.VE TİC.A.Ş

3 HAT-SAN GEMİ İNŞAA BAKIM ONARIM DENİZ NAKLİYAT SAN.TİC A.Ş

Ferries and Passenger Ships Export Ranking 2025

1 CEMRE TERSANESİ GEMİ İNŞAA SAN.A.Ş.

2 CEMRE MARİN ENDÜSTRİ A.Ş

3 TERSAN TERSANECİLİK SAN.VE TİC.A.Ş

Sub-Industry Export Ranking 2025

1 DATA HIDROLIK MAKINA SAN. A.S.

2 GÜRDESAN GEMİ MAKİNA SANAYİ VE TİCARET A.Ş.

3 OCEAN VOYAGER ELEKTRONİK SİSTEMLERİ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye