The “DEHUKAM Capacity Building Program in the Sea and Maritime Law”, organized by the Ankara University National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) with the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was held in Istanbul and Ankara between 3 and 7 August 2026.
The program aimed to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience in the fields of the sea and maritime law, contribute to the development of the institutional and human capacity of the participating countries in these areas, and share Türkiye’s knowledge and institutional experience in the field. A total of 13 participants from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Brazil, Djibouti, Philippines, Montenegro, Libya, Mauritania, Romania, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya participated in the program.
As part of the Istanbul component of the program, the participants attended the International Law of the Sea Summer Academy, jointly organized by DEHUKAM, Kadir Has University, National University of Singapore Center for International Law, and Piri Reis University between 3 and 5 August 2026. Within this framework, the participants attended lectures delivered by academics and judges specializing in the field of the sea and maritime law, providing them with the opportunity to gain comprehensive knowledge of fundamental and current issues in the field and to follow assessments concerning different legal systems. The sessions held as part of the Academy contributed to enhancing the participants’ theoretical knowledge of the law of the sea and enabled them to gain a closer understanding of international practices.
Various site visits were also conducted in Istanbul as part of the program. In this context, the delegation was hosted by the Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association (GISBIR) at its premises in Tuzla and conducted a site visit to the shipyards area. During the visit, GISBIR representatives provided the participants with comprehensive information on the activities of the Association, the current state of Türkiye’s shipbuilding industry, the sector’s role within international maritime activities, and recent developments in the shipbuilding sector. The visit provided the participants with an opportunity to observe the shipbuilding industry, one of the key components of the maritime sector, on site and to gain insight into Türkiye’s institutional and sectoral experience in this field. Following the site visit, the delegation also had a technical tour of a fully electric tugboat.
Another site visit conducted by the delegation in Istanbul was to the Rumeli Fishing Shelter. During the visit, the participants were briefed by the relevant authorities on the operation and activities of fishing shelters and their role in the fisheries sector. The visit aimed to provide the participants with an opportunity to directly observe the practical aspects of maritime and fisheries activities and to gain practical experience regarding different areas of maritime affairs.
The Ankara component of the program was held on 6 and 7 August 2026. Within this framework, the delegation visited various public institutions and organizations responsible for Türkiye’s maritime, fisheries, foreign policy, defence, and security affairs. The delegation visited the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Directorate General for North Eastern Mediterranean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defence, the Turkish Coast Guard Command of the Ministry of Interior, the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and DEHUKAM.
As part of their visit to DEHUKAM, the participants had the opportunity to visit the recently renovated DEHUKAM Study Hall located on the Ankara University campus. During the visit, DEHUKAM CEO Dr. Mustafa Başkara delivered a presentation providing the delegation with comprehensive information on DEHUKAM’s ongoing projects, research activities, and national and international engagements. Following the presentation, the participants had the opportunity to learn more about DEHUKAM’s areas of work, institutional structure, and current activities in the field of the sea and maritime law, as well as to see first-hand the working facilities of the Center.
During the visit to the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Director General Erdinç Güneş delivered a comprehensive presentation on Türkiye’s fisheries activities, the current state of the fisheries sector, and ongoing activities in the field of fisheries and aquaculture. The presentation also provided the participants with information on the sustainable use of Türkiye’s fisheries resources, the management of fisheries activities, and relevant public policies.
The delegation also visited the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). During the presentation hosted by YTB Vice President Murat Kazan, the delegation was briefed on the activities carried out by the Presidency, international student programs, Türkiye’s activities in the fields of international education and cultural cooperation, as well as its work concerning Turkish citizens living abroad and related communities.
As part of the program, the Ambassadors of the Philippines, Sudan, and Somalia to Ankara; the Chargés d’Affaires of the Embassies of Djibouti and Montenegro in Ankara; the Consul of the Embassy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in Ankara; and a representative of the Embassy of Ethiopia in Ankara came together with TİKA Vice President Mr. Ali Ercan and the program delegation at a dinner held at Kınacızade Mansion. The gathering provided an important opportunity to discuss existing relations and potential areas of cooperation between Türkiye and the participating countries, as well as to explore areas of common interest, particularly in the field of the law of the sea.
On the final day of the program, a comprehensive briefing was provided on Türkiye’s maritime jurisdictional areas, the delimitation of maritime jurisdictional areas, and Türkiye’s policies in the relevant fields. In this context, a representative of the Directorate General for North Eastern Mediterranean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a presentation to the delegation on Türkiye’s approach to maritime jurisdictional areas and regional developments.
The delegation also visited the Turkish Coast Guard Command. During the visit, hosted by Deputy Commandant of the Turkish Coast Guard Command Rear Admiral Cengiz Fitoz, the delegation was given a comprehensive presentation on the duties and responsibilities of the Turkish Coast Guard Command, its activities at sea, efforts to ensure maritime security, and Türkiye’s maritime law enforcement activities.
One of the final visits of the program was to the Ministry of National Defence. During the meeting hosted by Deputy Director General of the Directorate General for Defence and Security of the Ministry of National Defence Rear Admiral İsmail Güldoğan, the delegation was briefed on the Ministry’s activities in the fields of maritime security and defence, as well as Türkiye’s security policies concerning the maritime domain. This provided the participants with an opportunity to assess, from different institutional perspectives, the relationship between the law of the sea, maritime security, defence, and national maritime policies.
The academic sessions, site visits, meetings with public institutions and organizations, and engagements with representatives of diplomatic missions held throughout the five-day program contributed to enhancing the participants’ knowledge and experience in the field of sea and maritime law. The program also enabled the participants to gain comprehensive insight into Türkiye’s institutional framework and practices in the fields of the law of the sea, maritime affairs, fisheries, maritime security, and defence. At the same time, the program contributed to strengthening the exchange of knowledge and experience among the participating countries and to identifying potential areas of cooperation for future engagement.
DEHUKAM extends its sincere appreciation to the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), as well as to all public institutions and organizations that hosted the delegation, academic and sectoral stakeholders, representatives of diplomatic missions, and all those who contributed to the successful implementation of the program, for their kind hospitality and valuable contributions.
