3rd Super Yacht Türkiye 2025

The conference will take place in an open, daring and stimulating environment combined with transparent discussions, with yachting executives actively participating, discussing, debating and will exchanging their thoughts, ideas, visions, and roles in (green) yachting, energy transition and security, decarbonization, financing, and investing models for yachting today and the future.

The conference discussions will focus on how the Turkish yachting industry can accelerate towards an excellent future.

Participants will plunge into a pool of booming businesses, network opportunities, and knowledge transfer.

‍It will be inspiring. Be There.

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P R O G R A M M E

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Tentative List of Panellists

‍[The Final of speakers and panellists will be published soon - stay tuned]

- Murat Kiran Chairman, Turkish Shipbuilders Association GISBIR
- Tamer Kiran Chairman, Chamber of Shipping, Türkiye
- Cem Seven Chairman, Ship, Yacht and Marine Services Exporters Association, Türkiye
- Nurettin Caliskan Board Member, President, International Relations, Turkish Shipbuilders Association GISBIR
- Ioannis Kostoulas President, Mare Forum
- Joel Walton CEO, Maritime Authority of Cayman Islands
- Mehtap Ozdemir Secretary General, Turkish Shipbuilders Association GISBIR
- Patrick Bachofner Director, Worldwide Director, Yachts International Registries
- Engel-Jan de Boer Global Yacht Segment Director, Lloyd's Register
- Murat Eristi Financial Advisor, Turkish Shipbuilders Association, GISBIR
- Ziya  Saydam External Relations Commission member- Turkish Shipbuilders Association / Associate Professor, Piri Reis University
- Taylan Salgur Operations Director, Turquoıse Yacht
- Fatih Kapucu Sales & Marketing Director, Ses Yachts
- Artun Ertem General Manager, Atakoy Marina
- Chris Vartzis Partner, Head of Greece Maritime Finance, Stephenson Harwood
- Ali Tanir Yacht Broker & New Construction Specialist, Northrop and Johnson
- Ibrahim Karatas External Relations Commission member, Turkish Shipbuilders Association / KARATAS Yacht Design
- Cem Hüroğlu Board Member, Ship, Yacht and Marine Services Exporters Association
- Tanju Kalaycıoglu Owner, Taka Yacht Design
- Andrea Armas Advisor to the Board of Directors, GX Superyachts
- Louis R. Montello Founder, Montello Law
- Dilan Sarac, Executive Director, The Superyacht Life Foundation
- Sharon Rose Recruitment Director, BlueWater Yachting
- Cem Cakmak Sr. Technical Manager, Yachts, IRI/Marshall Islands Registry
- Berna Korkmaz Yachting Department Chief, Turk Loydu
- Serhan Buyukdogan Partner, Buyukdogan Law Firm
- Fatih Surekli Co-Founder,Redyacht Design
- Julian​​​​ Smith Regional Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Cayman Registry
- Yigit Akbarlas Design Director, Mengi Yay Yacht
- Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun Managing Director, Ares Yachts
- Inanc Isıl Yildirim -Professor, Architecture and Yacht Interior Design Specialist
- Dimitris Dedepsidis Regional MPV, OSV, PASS & YACHT Segment Director, Business Development, DNV
- Tim Kershaw Director, Sales & Marketing- Dunya Yachts
- Ozgur Numan Owner, Numan Yachting  
- Georgia Allen Projects and Relationships Manager, International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN)
- Can Soyaslan Partner, Soyaslan Design
- More panellists to be announced. Stay tuned
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P R O G R A M M E

12:00
Registration and Networking



13:10
Session 1 



➤ Opening and Welcome



- Ioannis (Jannis) Kostoulas, President, Mare forum
- Murat Kiran, Chairman, Turkish Shipbuilders Association GISBIR
- Tamer Kiran Chairman, Chamber of Shipping, Türkiye
- Cem Seven Chairman, Ship, Yacht and Marine Services Exporters Association, Türkiye
 
13:40

Session 2



➤ Designing a Brilliant Future of the Turkish Yachting Industry!


Türkiye's Growing Role in the Global Superyacht Market


The vision: 

‍- New expectations from owners, builders, and designers in yachting trends
The market:
- Future trends and market outlook for (green) superyachts

- Global and Turkish order book analysis

The Yacht builders and designers’ views:
- Designing and building the super Yacht of the future in Turkey
- The ways to increase quality in the building process as the Turkish industry is losing price advantage
- Creatingquality Turkish brands
Industry Integration:
- Hotel – cruise - yachting.   The increased presence of top players in the hotel and cruise industry entering the luxury yachting industry with new concepts and new buildings
- What are the threats and opportunities?
Chartering:
- What is the future of the charter market?
- Integration of yacht and villa or other assets?
- What are the trends globally and in Turkey
The Marina of the Future:
- Designing, building, and managing future marinas

- Trends of super-yacht marinas in the era of sustainability to accommodate (green) superyachts
- What are the imperatives?

SESSION CHAIRMAN:

- Nurettin Caliskan Board Member, President, International Relations, Turkish Shipbuilders Association GISBIR
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Taylan Salgur Operations Director, Turquoıse Yacht
- Cem Hüroğlu Board Member, Ship, Yacht and Marine Services Exporters Association
- Andrea Armas Advisor to the Board of Directors, GX Superyachts
- Artun Ertem General Manager, Atakoy Marina
- Fatih Kapucu Sales & Marketing Director, Ses Yachts
- Cem Cakmak Sr. Technical Manager, Yachts, IRI/Marshall Islands Registry
- Yigit Akbarlas Design Director, Mengi Yay Yacht
- Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun Managing Director, Ares Yachts
- Ozgur Numan Owner, Numan Yachting  

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14:40

Session 3



➤ Creating the Future Talent in Turkish Yachting, Investing in People



Addressing the human capital trends essential for the industry’s evolution.
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Skillset Demands: 

- There is a necessity for new skills, charisma, diversity, and talent in yachting. How to achieve this?

- Increasing costs of building and lack of skilled people

Attracting New Talent: 

-What are the strategies to engage and recruit the next generation?


Crew shortage retention: 

- What actions need to be taken?


Training: 

- The increasing number of fires related to electric water toys and hybrid yachts requires specific battery fire training for the crew.


Educational Role: 

- What is the role of yachting education in a sustainable context?


Future Trends: 

Understanding what the younger generation seeks in a career.


Industry Image: 

Strategies for improving the public perception of yachting


How the yachting sector can become more mature and more structured in the operation, recruiting and training of seafarers aligning more to the shipping and cruise industry.

SESSION CHAIRMAN:

- Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun Managing Director, Ares Yachts


DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Dilan Sarac Executive Director, The Superyacht Life Foundation
- Ziya  Saydam External Relations Commission member- Turkish Shipbuilders Association / Associate Professor, Piri Reis University
- Ali Tanir Yacht Broker & New Construction Specialist, Northrop and Johnson
- Ibrahim Karatas External Relations Commission member, Turkish Shipbuilders Association / KARATAS Yacht Design
- Tanju Kalaycıoglu Owner, Taka Yacht Design
- Sharon Rose Recruitment Director, BlueWater Yachting
- Fatih Surekli Co-Founder, Redyacht Design
- Inanc Isıl Yildirim -Professor, Architecture and Yacht Interior Design Specialist
- Tim Kershaw Director, Sales & Marketing- Dunya Yachts  
- Georgia Allen Projects and Relationships Manager, International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN)

15:30

Networking Break hosted by

AVS

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16:00

Session 4



➤ Legal, Regulatory, and Risk Management Challenges – What is urgently needed?

‍Navigating Regulations
- VAT exemption update by the government and reflections on the yacht builders market
- Russian yachts around Turkish costs needing Serviceand Maintenance versus Sanctions
- Proactive approaches to regulations and addressing safety concerns
- Enhancing safety and operational standards
New Regulations and Standards
- Addressing lithium-ion battery systems and water toy safety
- insurance regulations for unregulated vessels
Industry Representation and Challenges
- Establishing a common voice at the IMO
- Addressing overregulation and taxation complexities 



SESSION CHAIRMAN:
Julian​​​​ Smith Regional Director, Europe, Middle East & AfricaCayman Registry


DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Murat Eristi Financial Advisor, Turkish Shipbuilders Association, GISBIR
- Serhan Buyukdogan Partner, Buyukdogan Law Firm
- Louis R. Montello Founder, Montello Law
- Chris Vartzis Partner, Head of Greece Maritime Finance, Stephenson Harwood
- Berna Korkmaz Yachting Department Chief, Turk Loydu
- Dimitris Dedepsidis Regional MPV, OSV, PASS & YACHT Segment Director, Business Development, DNV
- Can Soyaslan Partner, Soyaslan Design
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17:00 - 17:30
Session 5



➤ Final Thoughts and Call to Action 


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➤ THE NETWORKING RECEPTION and NETWORKING DINNER

It will be held at the garden of GISBIR.
Address:
GISBIR, Postane Mah. Çınarlı Sok. No:34 Mercan Tuzla, İstanbul, İstanbul
Shuttles will depart from the hotel to the GISBIR Garden at 18:00.
The cocktail will start at 18:30, followed by dinner at 20:00
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18:30
Networking Reception, hosted by the

➤ IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry
➤ Buyukdogan Law Firm

20:00
Networking Dinner, hosted by

➤ CAYMAN REGISTRY
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HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

If you decide to book a room at the conference venue CROWNE PLAZA - Istanbul Asia (an IHG Hotel) you can then profit of discounted rates whc h are negociated with the organizers.
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ACCOMMODATION DETAILS
Single Standard Room: €105.-
Double Standard Room: €125.-

➢ The above-stated rates include buffet breakfast, subject to 10% VAT and 2% Accommodation TAX.
➢ Any increase in VAT will be reflected in the rates above stated rates and the hotel reserves the right toincrease the quoted price in case of any additional applicable taxes.
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OTHER DETAILS
➢ Complimentary WiFi/Wired HSIA in all guestrooms, meeting
➢ Complimentary carpark for in-house guest.

TO BOOK a ROOM:

Participants attending the Mare Forum conference who want to book a room at the conference venue can contact the person listed below for reservations.

Mr. Oguzhan Ucankus - oguzhan.ucarkus@cpistanbulasia.com

When mentioning "GISBIR Mare Forum," He can make reservations at the special discounted rate mentioned above.

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