ULUSOY SEALINES MANAGEMENT
PLAIN SAILING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
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ULUSOY SEALINES MANAGEMENT
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I PROFILE
Ulusoy Sealines Management is a diverse group set up by the Ulusoy family, who first entered the shipping industry in 1981. 15 years later, the family established Ulusoy Sealines Management, which has continued to reap success ever since. Commercial Manager Volkan Erucar discussed the company’s latest developments, in an exclusive interview with Inside Marine. Report by Imogen Ward.
O
perating daily, with the motto
1937, Initially opening a coach company
‘everything on time’, it is no wonder
in 1952. the Ulusoy brand went on to estab-
that Ulusoy Sealines Management
lish a truck transportation business in
has a reputation for reliability and excel-
1973, before entering the shipping market
lence. Having maintained the concession
in 1981. It is here that Ulusoy became a
rights for Çeşme Port since 2003, the
household name for Ro-Ro transportation.
company has worked hard to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the
Establishing solid lines
port services.
With the success of its work in Ro-Ro,
“Having the concession rights to the
Ulusoy established several strong lines,
port has allowed us the opportunity to
including the thriving Çeşme-Trieste line
improve the organisation and scheduling
at the turn of the millennium.
of punctual loading and unloading
“On our Çeşme-Trieste line, we operate
operations,” said Commercial Manager
three modern, new-generation sister ves-
Volkan Erucar: “this is incredibly impor-
sels, each with a capacity of 4,100 lane
tant for regular lines.”
metres,” Mr Erucar said. “Each one of
As a well-known family name, Ulusoy has
these ships was built at Flensburger
been an integral part of Turkey’s trans-
Shipyard in Germany; this includes the
portation sector since 1920, by making
Ulusoy-14 and Ulusoy-15 and Ulusoy-16.”
simple boat and starting transportation
The company also has two further sister
between two towns when heavy rainfall
vessels, both with a capacity of 2,760 lane
makes the border flood. Ulusoy con-
metres, which are currently out on charter.
tinues its adventure with Opel buses
To ensure the safety of crew members
transporting regional passengers in
and passengers, Ulusoy implements
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ULUSOY SEALINES MANAGEMENT
I PROFILE
strict safety protocols which comply with the highest standards, rules and
initially appointed for 30 years. However, this agreement was later extended by
regulations governed by both the local
an additional 19 years – until 2052 –
authority and international bodies.
highlighting the exceptional work Ulusoy
The company also has dedicated ter-
has undertaken at Çeşme.
minals with modern facilities ready to
The concession was initially granted
load and unload at either end, and all
with the hopes of improving the overall
the equipment based at these terminals
economic benefit, increasing employment
is regularly maintained. The company’s
and expanding port infrastructure.
long-standing concession at Çeşme Port
Before Ulusoy’s presence, the port
helps make the entire process smoother.
consisted of 27,000 sqm and one pier. Through several major extension projects,
A captivating concession
the company has successfully increased
Çeşme Port was first constructed in 1991
the total area to a whopping 87.000 sqm
to meet a demand for ferry services to
plus 90.000 sqm outside of the port.
the Turkish seaside town of Çeşme.
Two new piers were also constructed as
The relationship between Ulusoy and
part of this, one dedicated to Ro-Ro and
Çeşme Port is both fruitful and long-
one for daily passenger operations. The
lasting. Having set up the successful
company also successfully extended
Çeşme-Trieste route in 2000, three years
the original pier to allow for the mooring
later the company won the concession
of larger vessels.
rights to the port. These were granted by
“As part of our extensive expansion, we
the Turkish Privatization Administration
extended the original pier from 150 metres
and Turkish Maritime Lines and were
to 322 metres – and built two new piers –
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one of them 212 metres and the other one 50 metres which allowed for the mooring of Ro-Ro, ferryboats, cruise vessels and day passenger vessels between CesmeChios Island” Mr Erucar explained. Over the years, the port has been hugely successful, with a significant number of tourists choosing to utilise its facilities each year. The port has also made sure to benefit the local community: with a commitment to maintaining the beautiful environment within which it resides, the port has recently applied for ‘Green Port’ status. It also maintains its ISO 14001 to help further improve its footprint. With regular services running from Çeşme to Trieste, the company also maintains a terminal called TIMT/Trieste Intermodal Maritime Terminal) within the Port of Trieste.
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ULUSOY SEALINES MANAGEMENT
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Ulusoy was granted 19 years’ concession rights for TIMT/Trieste terminal this year – until 2042.
customers always receive the very best quality service. “We have already installed a solar
“Our terminals have all the necessary
power plant and have further planning
infrastructure needed to maintain smooth
in place to install an 8MW cold ironing
operations,” Mr Erucar said. “We also utilise
system for feeding electricity to the
advanced IT and control systems for
vessels from the shore,” Mr Erucar said.
passenger and cargo tracking and more
The company also intends to expand
accurate scheduling. This has enabled us
its fleet, which will put it in the perfect
to improve the operation of our terminals.”
position to meet any future increases in demand. With Turkey’s tourism rates
Fair winds and following seas
increasing year-on-year and Ulusoy’s
As the future comes into focus, Ulusoy
ability to provide such an efficient and
already has plans in place to further
enjoyable service, it is only a matter of
progress its presence at these two
time before this happens.
ports. Development of both Çeşme Port
Although the company’s goals are
and Trieste TIMT Terminal is expected
clear, Mr Erucar made sure to highlight
to take place in the near future to really
that the shipping industry as a whole
advance the service offering. This will
is not always so straightforward:
be a continuous endeavour to ensure
“As long as you are in the shipping
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business, unpredictability is certain. That, mixed with the varying hurdles that each new day brings, makes me eager to get stuck in and find the perfect solutions.” When it comes to overcoming challenges, Ulusoy is no stranger to sourcing solutions. During Covid, the company worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of crews and the smooth running of all operations. “Certainly, the biggest challenge for us was to ensure the continuation of our lines without any interruptions,” Mr Erucar concluded. “I am pleased to say we did just that – and with all the necessary preparations in place. It was difficult to achieve, but we knew we could do it by working closely with our management, crews and office employees. We continued sailing safely and on time.”
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