Turkish Lloyd: A Rising Force in Global Maritime Standards

There are two separate elections on the agenda of the Turkish maritime community: The first is the election of the Chamber of Ship Engineers, which will take place on March 29, and the other is the Turkish Lloyd Foundation election in April. With these two important elections on the horizon, I decided to take a closer look and spoke individually with key figures. I will share these insights with you in due course. Especially as the eyes are turned towards the Strait of Hormuz in a war environment, we are reminded once again of how vital shipping is. For this reason, let’s first take a look at our most significant asset in international waters, Turkish Lloyd.

A historic turning point for Turkish shipping was Turkish Lloyd's membership in IACS. There are 12 critical organizations that determine technical standards in world shipping, and Turkish Lloyd is now at that table. Today, Turkish Lloyd experts are not just interpreting rules in the fields of vessels, machinery, decarbonization, and digital transformation; they are writing the rules.

There is no need for excessive words; the numbers truly speak for themselves:

Following its IACS membership, Turkish Lloyd received 118 ship transfers in a very short time. With the addition of the Bahamas and the Marshall Islands, the Lloyd reached the authority of 20 flag states. It increased the number of classed vessels to 581. In the last three years, net sales have grown by approximately 200% in dollar terms. The institution is now one of the 12 global classification organizations producing technical standards. A growing fleet, an expanding area of authority, a permanent place at the global technical table… This is a real milestone!

The portfolio has also changed. The transferred vessels cover different types and areas of expertise. Turkish Lloyd's portfolio is no longer limited to Turkish-flagged vessels. As stated by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Turkish Lloyd Foundation, Oral Erdoğan, 'Anyone who opens the official website of IACS sees Turkish Lloyd among the 12 members. The Lloyd is now a global technical player that develops rules. Our experts are actively involved at the table where new class rules are being prepared and existing ones are being updated. This is a real visibility.'

There is also change internally.

While the Lloyd is growing externally, it has also changed internally. The company’s board of directors has increased from three to five members. Experiences in academia, shipbuilding, finance, industry, and international classification have come together on the same platform, creating a strong synergy. Budget expertise and internal audit have entered the institution. The foundation charter has been rewritten.

Independence, transparency, and accountability are no longer just expressed as principles; they find more reflection in the corporate structure. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bülent Alnıaçık, states that commercial law and foundation oversight work together, thus ensuring double assurance of accountability. Erdoğan summarizes the management approach in one sentence: 'We have adopted a democratic management understanding where ideas are honestly presented and consulted, rather than being dominated by individuals.'

Expertise is expanding, and the goal is to deepen…

Lütfü Savaşkan is currently a member of the IACS Council on behalf of Turkish Lloyd and the director of IACS Ltd. based in London. He has carried the operational management of Turkish Lloyd for nearly ten years. He explains the rationale for the transition in his role: 'I assessed that focusing on representation in the international management structure would be more appropriate for the institution.'

Savaşkan is at the forefront of the institution’s most critical front, fully authorized in his position. Turkish Lloyd is currently active in 60 commercial and 45 military shipbuilding projects. Defense projects are providing the institution with technical depth and strategic reputation. The next topics include alternative fuels, decarbonization, digitalization, and cybersecurity.

The staff is retained, and the vision is strengthened.

So, does the technical staff at Turkish Lloyd meet IACS standards? Board Member Prof. Dr. Kadir Sarıöz provides a direct answer: 'Yes.' But the picture does not end here. Turkish Lloyd is transitioning from a non-competitive environment to the harsh conditions of the international arena. The dedicated technical staff will be preserved and strengthened with new globally focused names.

Sarıöz’s roadmap for 2030 is clear: 'I have no doubt that we will see a Turkish Lloyd that prepares its own unique rules, procedures, and software entirely with its own capabilities, making openings at both national and international levels.'

The map is expanding to Singapore, Azerbaijan, China, and beyond.

A branch has been opened in Singapore. Relations in Azerbaijan and China have strengthened. Prof. Dr. Oral Erdoğan indicates that the goal is to establish branches in at least two more countries in a short time. The map is growing. The Turkish Lloyd Academy is also part of this expansion's intellectual side: research, consulting, and technical publications.

According to Bülent Alnıaçık, Chairman of the Board of Turkish Lloyd UDH A.Ş., the growth is not coincidental. A qualified technical team and a strong audit infrastructure are increasing the preference for Turkish Lloyd in both newly constructed vessels and existing fleets.

Now let’s turn to the Turkish Lloyd Foundation… The foundation has played a direct role in every step of the IACS membership process. It ensured that the process was conducted meticulously, monitored, and completed without deficiencies. Additionally, it transformed the previously limited and criticized scholarship provision approach by developing and implementing a transparent and fair Turkish Lloyd Foundation Scholarship Automation System open to everyone. In this direction, in the 2024–2025 academic year, a total of 195 students received scholarships from 25 different programs and 22 different universities. In the 2025–2026 academic year, the scholarship program was further expanded to provide scholarships and educational support to 214 students from 35 different programs and 40 different universities.

The agenda is the election, the goal is 2030.

The election calendar is in progress. However, Turkish Lloyd's eyes are on 2030. A significant portion of global trade passes through the seas. The Strait of Hormuz is tense. Arctic routes are opening. The pressure for zero emissions is increasing. Being one of the 12 organizations producing technical standards in this context brings new responsibilities. Human resources, software, procedure development, new offices, and global technical collaborations are now the main topics.

According to Yılmaz Onur, a member of the Turkish Lloyd Foundation, the upcoming elections are therefore not just an administrative process: 'The GMO and the subsequent Turkish Lloyd elections are not merely an administrative change of flags; they are critical turning points that determine the course of the Turkish maritime sector.'

The preparation for this turning point is firmly based on concrete topics: human resources, software, procedure development, new offices, and global technical collaborations.

Erdoğan recalls the words of Founding President Zeyyat Parlar: 'The establishment of Turkish Lloyd was based on two foundations; technical and scientific; integrity and impartiality.' The institution is now preparing to continue this course on a global scale.

Discussions will certainly continue. However, the reality shown by the numbers does not change: Turkish Lloyd is now an institution that sits at the table where the rules of world shipping are written. Indeed, between the 21st and 23rd of next month, the 'IACS General Policy Group Meetings' will convene in Istanbul to shape global ship classification and maritime safety. The heart of world shipping will beat here.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye