The Bosphorus Shipbrokers’ Dinner, one of the most important gatherings in the Turkish maritime sector, is growing stronger every year.
The 7th Bosphorus Shipbrokers’ Dinner event, which we will organize on June 26, 2026, will be an event focused on quality beyond the number of participants, unlike previous years.
We aim to bring together the leaders of the sector under one roof with a more select and focused guest list.
We also plan to advance both the guest experience and the international visibility of the organization by making more intensive use of digitalization in communication and organizational processes.
In short, the 2026 Bosphorus Shipbrokers’ Dinner will further strengthen its claim to be the global showcase of Turkish shipping.
The event, which hosted more than 2,650 local and foreign guests in 2024, demonstrated once again that Turkey is a magnet for shipping
Foreign participants saw our country’s logistical strength and strategic importance up close. This not only meant prestige; it also contributed to new partnerships, commercial opportunities, and increased confidence in Turkey.
The Culture of Working Together is Growing Stronger
With the strong support of our Turkish Chamber of Shipping and our sponsors, this organization is now evolving into a joint project for the entire sector, not just a single association.
This support reinforces the culture of working together. Our maritime stakeholders are coming together around the same table to lay the foundations for new collaborations.
Each successive administration acts with the understanding that “every brick laid will pay off many times over for all industry stakeholders in the future.”
One of the finest examples of this vision is the educational projects we have launched as an association.
Although they may seem to benefit only a few young people in the short term, when these young people enter the profession, they create lasting value for the entire industry.
Similarly, projects focused on environmental awareness may seem like small steps today, but they will make significant contributions to the sustainability of Turkish maritime in the future.
Contributing to Turkey’s Brand Value
Events such as the Bosphorus Shipbrokers’ Dinner put Istanbul and Turkey on the global maritime calendar.
Foreign guests who attend experience the professionalism of our industry and Turkish hospitality.
This creates a powerful promotional effect that directly reflects on our country’s brand value.
Networking is the key to success in shipping.
The Bosphorus Shipbrokers’ Dinner brings together professionals from different corners of the world in Istanbul.
We plan to organize events in various shipping centers in the coming years to expand these networks even further.
Transformation in the Brokerage Profession and the Role of Young People
The brokerage profession is no longer just a job conducted over the phone and email; with technology, it has become much faster, more transparent, and data-driven.
To increase the interest of young people, we are creating training courses, basic brokerage certification programs, seminars, and CV pools within our association.
Their qualified and equipped participation in the sector is vital for us.
The steps we need to take as an industry to further advance the potential of Turkish maritime are clear:
Sustainability, digitalization, and increasing the number of educated human resources.
By focusing on these three areas, we will accelerate Turkish maritime’s transition from being a regional power to becoming a global center.
Environmentally Conscious Shipping
Shipping is an industry that is directly intertwined with the environment
The IMO’s carbon reduction targets are reshaping our industry.
As an association, we organize panels and collaborate with universities to raise awareness on this issue.
One of our most meaningful projects, the “Ship Brokers Association Memorial Forest,” translates our environmental responsibility into concrete actions.
With this project, we aim to both raise awareness and make a tangible contribution.
Our goal is to leave a greener Turkey for future generations.
We believe that environmental sensitivity must be at the heart of preparing Turkish shipping for a sustainable future.
Onur Türkeş is a businessperson and industry representative with extensive professional experience in maritime and ship brokerage. As a founding partner of one of Turkey's leading ship brokerage companies, he has actively worked with international shipowners, operators, charterers, and cargo owners in the dry cargo and tanker markets, developing a broad business network at both regional and global levels. Playing an active role in the Turkish maritime community, Türkeş serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Ship Brokers Association. In this capacity, he works to strengthen communication among industry stakeholders, uphold ethical and professional standards, increase cooperation with international institutions and federations, and institutionalize the ship brokerage profession in Turkey. Türkeş is well-versed in the dynamic structure of international ship chartering and freight markets and is experienced in market analysis and commercial strategy development. He is proficient in both English and Turkish.
