One of the priorities of the “Turkish National Maritime Research Strategy (TUDAS) Document”, approved by the Council of Ministers’ Decree No.2014/6798 is the employment and strengthening of research capacity in the marine sciences and, within this context, implementing education programmes for researchers in the field of the sea and maritime law. For this purpose and following the recommendation of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara University Research Center of the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) was established within Ankara University. DEHUKAM has gained the legal entity status under 6550 numbered Code (Araştırma Altyapılarının Desteklenmesine Dair Kanun) and has become a national center according to 07/10/2020 dated Decision of the Research Infrastructures Commission. DEHUKAM is the first and only national center on the sea and maritime law and policy in Turkey, as well as the first research infrastructure that has gained qualification in the field of social sciences within the scope of 6550 numbered Code. The Board of Directors of DEHUKAM consists of members from universities, public and private sector, and with DEHUKAM’s gaining the status of a national center, an academic institution that Turkey needs has been founded.