Seas and oceans, which cover 71 percent of the world’s surface, provide food and energy to humans as well as being a habitat for millions of animals and plants. The seas and oceans, where many people earn their living, are today struggling with both climate change caused by global warming and pollution caused by the increasing population.
Murat Bekiroğlu, Chairman of the Board of Yacht and Boat Industry Association (YATED), who was born in Ordu and grew up with maritime culture by opening his eyes to the endless blue, said, “I have been spending my time at sea, especially for the last 15 years. I am both a sailor, a boat owner and an investor in marine tourism. We carry out sea tourism with more than 20 boats with our ‘SaySail’ brand, which is our subsidiary company. We started this business 6 years ago. We do weekly charters called ‘bareboat charters’ and 85 percent of our customer profile is foreign. Foreign tourists come, they rent boats on Saturdays and have a holiday in our bays. “The feedback we have received and our own observations show that, unfortunately, the seas are becoming increasingly polluted,” he said.
“Dirsekbükü Bay has become like a marina”
Stating that there is an intense interest in marine tourism with the pandemic process, YATED President Bekiroğlu said, “While there used to be 15-20 boats in Dirsekbükü Bay during the busy season, now it has become like a marina. Because people don’t want to leave their place and they don’t leave for weeks. This being the case, the sea becomes increasingly polluted. We thought, “What should we do in this situation?” Because we get our bread from the sea. If these seas are polluted, we will lose both the deep blue seas of our country and our bread. Our children’s work will come from here. We need to leave a clean sea to the new generation. “This is our duty,” he said.
From now on, 1 boat per year
Stating that, as YATED, they are working on a waste collection boat project to combat this problem, Bekiroğlu said, “As a result of our work and the support of our sponsors, the production of our first waste collection boat has been completed. We start duty in Hisarönü Gulf on June 27 with our boat YATED-1. This boat cost us 300 thousand euros. “Our goal is to continue increasing by one boat every year,” he said.
It can handle 20 thousand liters of waste at a time.
Giving information that there are solar panels on the boat, Bekiroğlu said, “Our boat will produce its own energy with solar panels. The waste capacity it can receive at a time will be 20 thousand liters. We can fill it 2-3 times a day and increase this to 40 or 60 thousand liters. We currently have the largest capacity in the operating fiber boat category. The working system will be by appointment, within the scope of prior information. “The location of the boat on which day will also be announced via social media accounts and via radio,” he said.
The target is not profit, but incentive
Stating that the payment system of the waste collection boat was designed by YATED, Bekiroğlu said, “We are designing a very transparent payment system that has online payment systems and can be paid by credit card. Fee of 1000 – 1500 lira for up to one ton. Our goal here is not to make profit, but to encourage people to waste. It had to be a number that would not upset our amateur yachtsman. “It will be like that too,” he said.
“Mooring problem threatens sea tourism”
Pointing out that the biggest threat to marine tourism after environmental pollution is the boat mooring problem, YATED President Murat Bekiroğlu said, “Currently, the sale of boats under 15 meters has stopped. People pause when they hear mooring prices. Apart from the budget allocated to purchase the boat, a budget of 15-20 percent of the annual boat cost emerges. “Many people gave up buying a boat due to these costs, or they went to Greece and looked for ways to rent a boat,” he said.
“Lack of marinas pollutes the environment”
Stating that Turkey needs more marinas and emphasizing that marinas revitalize the marine ecosystem, YATED President Murat Bekiroğlu said, “We say that we are a country surrounded by seas on three sides, but we have more than 20 marinas in total. What we want is not ultra-luxury brand marinas. We want modern, affordable and, of course, environmentally friendly marinas where the safety of ordinary amateur yachtsmen can be ensured and other ancillary services can be provided. At least the way for investors can be paved with the build-operate-state model. We want to contribute to the construction of marinas that will support energy consumption with solar systems, dispose of the waste they collect and use a waste management system that respects nature. “There is no marina at the moment, the lack of a marina pollutes the sea, but people are not aware of this,” he said.
