The training programme entitled “Procedures for Imposing Administrative Sanctions, Standards of Proof and Legal Challenges in Marine Pollution Inspections”, jointly organised by the Ankara University National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) and the Türkiye Environment Agency, took place in Istanbul on 4-5 November 2026.

On the first day of the programme, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fevzi Topsoy of Piri Reis University addressed the legal framework for marine pollution inspections. Dr. Ömer Faruk Çiftbudak of the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center delivered training on the technical and legal challenges encountered in sampling procedures, while Prof. Dr. Hacı Kara of Istanbul Medeniyet University examined standards of proof and rules of evidence in administrative sanction proceedings.

On the second day, Prof. Dr. Süheyla Suzan Gökalp of Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University addressed the lawfulness of administrative acts and judicial review and conducted case studies. Prof. Dr. Levent Bilgili, a faculty member at Bursa Technical University and Senior Researcher at DEHUKAM, delivered training on obligations concerning the prevention of pollution from ships and the principles governing inspections under the MARPOL Convention and its Annexes.

Throughout the programme, the legal and technical aspects of marine pollution inspections were examined in an integrated manner, alongside practical challenges and proposed solutions.

We thank all our trainers and participants for their valuable contributions to the training programme.