The “1st Sea and Maritime Law Summit” organized by the Ankara University National Research Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM), took place on November 25–26, 2024, at the Faculty of Law of Ankara University. Participants included 15 different universities and various public institutions.

The summit began with opening speeches by Prof. Dr. Muharrem Özen, Dean of Ankara University Faculty of Law; Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, DEHUKAM Board Member; and Deputy Minister of Justice and DEHUKAM Board Member Niyazi Acar. The event aimed to enhance the knowledge and awareness of young minds shaping the future of maritime law.
Rear Admiral Mehmet Emre Sezenler, Head of Operations of the Turkish Naval Forces Command, delivered a detailed presentation on the Turkish Navy’s capabilities and competencies. Rear Admiral Gökçen Fırat, Türkiye’s first female admiral and Head of Defense Planning and Project Management at the Naval Forces Command, presented insights on naval diplomacy.
In a session that explored various facets of maritime law through the expertise of practitioners, Ambassador Burak Özügergin, Director General for Northeast Mediterranean at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of maritime law in international relations and Türkiye’s commitment to international law in his presentation titled “The Evolution of Maritime Law and Türkiye.”

On the second day of the summit, Ünal Baylan, Director General for Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, provided an in-depth overview of Türkiye’s maritime trade fleet and recent developments in the maritime sector. Highlighting that 86% of global trade is conducted via maritime routes, Baylan underlined the significance of maritime trade and Türkiye’s accomplishments in this field.
The summit also featured academic presentations, with contributions from DEHUKAM Board Members Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir and Prof. Dr. Yücel Acer, DEHUKAM Senior Researchers Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali İbrahim Akkutay and Dr. Ceren Cerit Dindar, as well as DEHUKAM CEO Dr. Mustafa Başkara, discussed various dimensions of maritime law. In the continuation of the program, DEHUKAM COO Adnan Menderes Aydın moderated presentations by DEHUKAM researchers: Emre Önsöz on “Recent Developments in Maritime Energy Law,” Büşra Deniz on “Recent Developments in Maritime Environmental Law,” and Derya Ulutürk on “Recent Developments in Maritime Climate.”
The program concluded with a panel titled “Career Opportunities in Maritime Law,” moderated by DEHUKAM CEO Dr. Mustafa Başkara. Distinguished legal professionals such as Av. Nazlı Selek (Manager of NSN Law Office), Av. M. Hakan Tüfekçi (Member of the Disciplinary Board of IMEAK Chamber of Shipping and Manager of Tüfekçi Law Firm), Av. M. Türker Yıldırım (Manager of EsenyelPartners), and Av. Sinan Güzel (Manager of TCG Fora Law Office) shared their experiences with students, who participated extensively in the program.
The event concluded with closing remarks and a certificate ceremony led by DEHUKAM CEO Dr. Mustafa Başkara.