Piri Reis University and the Turkish Association of Pilot Captains host a panel on 'Safety and Sustainability at Sea.'

In collaboration with Piri Reis University and the Turkish Association of Pilot Captains, a panel titled 'Safety and Sustainability at Sea: Legal and Environmental Transformation in Pilotage Services' was organized as part of Pilot Captains Week.

The panel, held on May 12, 2026, at Piri Reis University, addressed sustainability in the maritime sector, emission reduction, energy efficiency, safety in pilot transfer operations, and the legal responsibilities of pilot captains.

Sustainability projects were introduced.

In the opening speeches of the panel, Prof. Dr. Aykut Arslan, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Piri Reis University, Pilot Captain Nildeniz Sütçü Şen, President of the Turkish Association of Pilot Captains, and Pilot Captain Miguel Vieira de Castro, President of the European Association of Pilot Captains, emphasized the importance of a safety and sustainability-focused transformation in maritime activities.

In the first session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tutku Eker İşcioğlu from Piri Reis University introduced the Greenport Alliances project, supported by the European Union. The project, which includes universities and industry representatives from Turkey, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Malta, Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria, provided information on training contents and sustainability efforts aimed at reducing carbon emissions in port services.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Özdemir explained the EU-supported SUDEMAR project. The project aims to integrate sustainable development goals into the maritime sector, addressing topics such as health, education, equality, economic growth, and sustainable communities in a holistic manner. It was also stated that a database, e-learning platform, and mobile application have been developed for the sector, with all content to be made freely accessible.

Safety and legal responsibility were on the agenda.

Faruk Doğan, Secretary General of the Turkish Port Operators Association, shared developments regarding the green transformation process in ports, while Mustafa Berkan Taştan, a representative from GDS Research and Development, evaluated solutions for operational ship energy efficiency and emission optimization.

In the second session, Dr. Pilot Captain Mustafa Sökücü provided assessments on the dynamic analysis of pilot transfer accidents. Pilot Captain Tuğrul Oktaş offered technical information on the use of pilot plugs. The final speaker of the panel, Dr. Canan Özlem Ilgın Çelik, discussed the legal responsibilities of pilot captains.

The panel emphasized that in order to achieve sustainability goals in maritime activities, not only technological transformation but also education, operational awareness, and behavioral transformation are crucial.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye