Call for The Hague Application for Turkish Seafarers and Ships in the Black Sea

Salih Zeki Çakır, Honorary President of the Coaster Shipowners and Operators Association, stated that an application should be made to the International Court of Justice in The Hague for Turkish seafarers whose rights have been violated in the Black Sea and for ships stranded in Ukrainian ports.

International Jurisdiction and The Hague Call

Capt. Salih Zeki Çakır requested the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek the rights of victimized Turkish seafarers in the Black Sea and to address the situation of ships in Ukrainian ports. Citing the Mavi Marmara precedent, Çakır suggested applying to the International Court of Justice in The Hague with a demand for compensation for the seafarers who lost their lives and for the 18 Turkish ships held at the Port of Nikolayev.

Need for Interinstitutional Coordination

It is expected that experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide guidance in order to effectively manage and resolve the process. Furthermore, it was emphasized that coordinated work by the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping, KOSDER, the Turkish Shipowners' Association, and relevant ministries is inevitable.

Safe Port and Shelter Proposals

New steps are requested to be taken until markets recover for ships that cannot find employment or operate in the region due to the war. In this context, it was proposed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure that the Samsun Tekkeköy Shipyard Area, the Çandarlı Port region, and the İyidere Logistics Port be allocated as safe shelter locations.

Expectation of Long-Term Financial Support

It was stated that if the war prolongs, Turkish-flagged and owned shipping companies in the Black Sea and Mediterranean basins will be at risk. It was noted that unless businesses are supported with long-term operational loans, the Turkish coaster fleet could face irreparable losses.