EU project took Turkish ships off the black list

The project for “Support to the Enhancement of Safety of Maritime Transport in Turkey” was implemented in order to comply with the EU in the field of maritime safety and sea pollution prevention. The project opened new prospects for the maritime industry by allowing Turkish ships to be taken off the black list.

Reliability through inspections
Until recently, Turkey used to have serious difficulties in meeting its international requirements in respect of maritime safety and sea pollution prevention. Moreover, most of the existing regulations did not comply with the relevant EU criteria. Today, most of these difficulties have been overcome thanks to the project “Support to the Enhancement of Safety of Maritime Transport in Turkey”.

Employment opportunities for new graduates
The project had three components; twinning, technical assistance and supply. Its main activities included the preparation of a framework maritime safety law and implementation of regulations, recruitment and training of 160 ship surveyors to the Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs, purchase of adequate equipment needed for inspections and establishment of a legal database to be regularly updated by the maritime administrations.

Turkish ships are no more on the black list
The statistics of the Paris MoU, which aims at eliminating the operation of sub-standard ships through a harmonised system of Port State control, highlighted the significant outcomes achieved by the project. According to the statistics, in 2001, about 25% of the Turkish fleet (211 ships) were detained at European ports, while in 2006 the share of detained Turkish ships was reduced to 7% (43 ships). Additionally, Turkish ships are no longer on the black list, but have moved to the grey list.