The 6th Global Maritime Congress, organized by GEMİMO, Dokuz Eylul University, and University of Strathclyde, took place in Izmir on September 28-29, 2026,
The 6th Global Maritime Congress, organized by the Chamber of Marine Engineering and Management (GEMİMO) in collaboration with Dokuz Eylul University Maritime Faculty and the University of Strathclyde, took place in Izmir on September 28-29, 2026. The congress, attended by over 250 participants, addressed topics such as sustainability, decarbonization, smart shipping, maritime safety, and digital transformation.
The 6th Global Maritime Congress (GMC’26), organized by GEMİMO in collaboration with Dokuz Eylul University Maritime Faculty and the University of Strathclyde, brought together stakeholders from the maritime sector in Izmir.
Held in the Rectorate Hall of Dokuz Eylul University under the main theme of "Transformation in the Maritime Sector," the congress saw participation from academics, researchers, representatives of public institutions, and stakeholders from the maritime industry from various countries.
Among the participants were Pelin Devrim, Director of the General Directorate of Coastal Safety in Izmir, Yusuf Öztürk, President of the Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Shipping, and representatives from various associations and institutions in the maritime sector.
91 presentations were made in 15 sessions
As part of GMC’26, which hosted over 250 participants, 91 presentations were made in 15 sessions. Additionally, a panel and 24 poster presentations were held during the congress.
Sponsoring companies had the opportunity to showcase their products, services, and technologies in the exhibition area. Two different training simulators were also presented to the interest of the participants.
The gala dinner organized as part of the congress brought together representatives from academia, public institutions, and the maritime sector, providing participants with the opportunity to exchange views and develop professional connections.
Emphasis on collaboration between academia and industry at the opening
At the opening of the congress, GEMİMO President Yunus Emre Aşkın, Dokuz Eylul University Rector Prof. Dr. Bayram Yılmaz, Dean of the Maritime Faculty Prof. Dr. Şermin Açık Çınar, and Prof. Dr. Osman Turan from the University of Strathclyde delivered speeches.
GEMİMO President Yunus Emre Aşkın highlighted the role of the chamber as the founding host of the congress and the importance of collaboration between academia and the industry. Aşkın stated:
"The maritime sector and the academic world cannot be considered independently of each other. The operational realities and technical challenges faced by engineers working at sea reflect on academic research, while scientific advancements and innovations in engineering should also guide the future of our sector. When the sector and academia walk hand in hand, we not only solve today's problems but also design tomorrow's solutions together."
"Civil mariners are not a warring party"
Addressing the conflicts occurring in global trade routes, Aşkın expressed the following regarding the safety of mariners:
"Civil mariners are not a warring party, and commercial vessels are not targets. Mariners, who ensure the continuity of global supply chains under the most challenging conditions, deserve safe, peaceful, and secure working environments. No geopolitical objective or economic interest is more valuable than the life of a single mariner."
Aşkın concluded his speech by thanking the GEMİMO Board of Directors, the Organizing Committee, the congress sponsors, keynote speakers, and participants.
Transformation evaluated from the perspectives of shipowners and shipbuilding
On the first day of the congress, a panel titled "Transition in Maritime" was held, moderated by Prof. Dr. Oral Erdoğan, Chairman of the Turkish Lloyd Foundation Board.
The panel, which included TÜRKLİM Secretary General Faruk Doğan, Turkish Shipowners' Association Board Chairman Cihan Ergenç, and GİSBİR Secretary General Mehtap Özdemir, evaluated the transformation in the maritime sector from the perspectives of ship management, shipowning, and shipbuilding.
Following the panel, current developments in sustainability, safety, and the decarbonization process were discussed in the session titled "Sustainability and Safety in Decarbonization Process," chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif Bal Beşikçi.
Artificial intelligence, autonomous ships, and advanced ship design
In the parallel scientific program of the first day, sessions titled "AI, Autonomy & Smart Maritime Systems," chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Doğrul, and "Naval Architecture, Hydrodynamics & Advanced Ship Design," chaired by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Atlar, took place.
These sessions addressed artificial intelligence, autonomous ships, smart shipping applications, ship design, hydrodynamics, and advanced engineering solutions.
Later in the day, the session titled "Maritime Safety & Human Reliability," chaired by Prof. Dr. Osman Turan, covered maritime safety, human error, port state controls, and reliability issues.
Simultaneously, the session titled "Alternative Fuels, Life-Cycle Assessment & Operational Efficiency," chaired by Prof. Dr. Dominic Hudson, brought alternative fuels, life-cycle assessment, and operational efficiency to the forefront.
Maritime education and future competencies
On the second day of the congress, the session titled "Maritime Education, Training & Future Competencies," chaired by Prof. Dr. Yusuf Zorba, was held. This session focused on maritime education, simulation, professional competencies, and the future human resource requirements.
In the session titled "Port & Terminal Operations and Maritime Tourism," chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Umur Bucak, port and terminal operations, marina management, maritime tourism, and port performance were evaluated.
Rights and working conditions of pilot captains were discussed
The second day also featured two parallel short oral presentation sessions chaired by Dr. Lecturer Egemen Ertürk and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Barış Kuleyin.
In these sessions, research findings were shared on a wide range of topics including maritime markets, logistics, alternative fuels, climate risks, seafarer welfare, safety, and governance.
Dr. Capt. Serkan Kahraman, President of the GEMİMO Izmir Branch Board, provided information on the rights and working conditions of pilot captains worldwide in his presentation titled "Labor Rights, Legal Status, and Working Conditions of Maritime Pilots."
Clean propulsion systems and digital maintenance were on the agenda
In the afternoon program, the session titled "Ship Energy Systems, Clean Propulsion & Emissions Control," chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emrah Erginer, addressed energy efficiency, clean propulsion systems, emissions control, and ammonia-fueled ships.
Simultaneously, the session titled "Marine Engineering, Reliability & Digital Maintenance," chaired by Prof. Dr. Alper Kılıç, discussed marine machinery systems, AI-supported predictive maintenance, ballast water treatment systems, and digital twin applications.
Seafarer welfare and the human factor
The session titled "Seafarer Wellbeing, Human Roles & Organizational Climate," chaired by Dr. Lecturer Serim Paker, focused on seafarer welfare, the human factor, psychological safety, physical fitness, and organizational climate.
In the session titled "Maritime Trade, Geopolitics & Security," chaired by Prof. Dr. Ömür Yaşar Saatçioğlu, maritime trade, geopolitical risks, energy security, maritime law, and maritime security were discussed.
Decarbonization policies and sustainable ports
In the final scientific sessions of the congress, the session titled "Maritime Decarbonization: Policy, Regulation & Environmental Transition," chaired by Dr. Lecturer Olgun Konur, evaluated climate change, the decarbonization of ports, fuel regulations, and emissions monitoring systems.
In the session titled "Sustainable Ports, Transport Integration & Smart Maritime Systems," chaired by Dr. Lecturer Nergis Ozispa, studies on sustainable ports, transport integration, smart port performance, digital marketing, and maritime logistics were shared.
In GEMİMO's evaluation of the congress, it was stated that the presentations and exchanges of views conducted over the two days contributed to the sharing of scientific knowledge and sectoral experience, the development of new collaborations, and the establishment of a common perspective regarding the future of the maritime sector.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
