Waste collection boat sets sail for sustainability

Sea pollution becomes a big problem in Turkey because it is surrounded by sea on three sides. Sustainability concerns, which are increasing day by day around the world, allow this issue to be solved. Yacht and Boat Industry Association (YATED), which gathers all components of yachting and boating in Turkey under the same roof, offers a solution to the problem of marine pollution by implementing the “Waste Collection Boat” project against pollution in the seas. While explaining the project in question, YATED President Murat Bekiroğlu points out that this work also means sailing towards sustainability in the seas.

Since the geographical conditions of our country are suitable for marine tourism, marine pollution also manifests itself as an involuntary problem. YATED, which acts as a roof in the yacht and boating world, also takes action to provide answers to the problems of the sector. YATED President Murat Bekiroğlu, who announced that they plan to implement Waste Collection Boat projects in order to prevent the pollution caused by yachts and boats, explains to our magazine their work in this direction carefully.

YATED President Murat Bekiroğlu, who started his speech by talking about the founding purpose and milestones of YATED, describes YATED from past to present as follows; “As the Yacht and Boat Industry Association, we have been continuing our work for the development of the yacht and boat industry since 2000, when we were founded. Our association aims to gather under one roof those engaged in manufacturing, import, export and trade in the yacht and boat sector in Turkey and those who serve marine tourism. We aim to carry out studies on marine materials and boat manufacturing and safety standards in Turkey, to inform the relevant authorities, to work to bring marine education to the grassroots level, and to encourage our young people to engage in this endeavor. At the same time, among the founding objectives of our association are to instill the love of the sea in Turkish people, to promote sea occupation and maritime, to raise the standards of those who produce, sell, import and export marine materials so that they can take this profession forward, to determine professional rules and to ensure the applicability of these rules. ”

“WE BROUGHT APPROXIMATELY 150 PEOPLE STAYING IN PEACE AND CHILDREN’S HOMES TO THE SEA WITH YATED BOAT, WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE MARITIME AND CABOTAGE FESTIVAL EVENT THAT WE ORGANIZE EVERY YEAR AS THE YACHT AND BOAT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (YATED).”

FIRST STOP OF THE WASTE COLLECTION BOAT; GOCEK

Talking about the current stage of the ‘Waste Collection Boat’ project, which they initiated to increase sustainability in the seas, YATED President said, “As YATED, we are implementing the Waste Collection Boat project in order to protect our seas, which are the most important wealth of our country and our industry, to be a part of the sustainability approach and to encourage our members. Within the scope of the project, as an association, we will carry out the processes of designing, building and operating boats that will collect solid and liquid waste from yachts and boats in the bays. A specially designed boat “will be exhibited at our February 2024 Bosphorus Boat Show Land Fair and will begin to sail around Göcek and its surroundings and clean the sea in April 2024,” he said.

“CAPACITY AREAS IN MARINAS ARE INSUFFICIENT”

Murat Bekiroğlu, who made statements that provide a solution to the marina problem that has been experienced in recent times and the complaints of ‘too many boats but no marina’, which are frequently on the agenda, said: “One of the biggest problems of the boat and yacht industry is the insufficient capacity in marinas and the increase in prices. The reason for the rise in prices is that supply is far below demand. “Currently, the total mooring capacity of 83 coastal facilities (marina, yacht mooring pier, municipal shelter) operating in Turkey with certificates from different ministries is 19 thousand 191,” he said.

Continuing his words by emphasizing the high cost of marina investments and management, Bekiroğlu said, “A significant portion of private boat owners will be happy to accommodate their boat / yacht in a safe and clean shelter. For this reason, investments in yacht piers with high mooring capacity and private boat shelters should be encouraged by the relevant ministries and investors should be directed. The population of the coastal settlement of La Rochelle, which is the center of yacht manufacturing in France, is 80 thousand and the boat or yacht mooring capacity of the marina provided by the municipality is 5 thousand 200. “It does not have a sauna, luxury restaurants or luxury shops, but it provides mooring services to French amateur sailors or yacht owners at affordable prices,” he said.

Drawing attention to the mooring points in the marina parking area, Bekiroğlu said, “This number of mooring places does not include the number of mooring places allocated to private boats or yachts in a significant part of the 384 fishing shelters on our coast.”

“INVESTMENT AREAS MUST CHANGE”

Underlining the possible investments to be made to solve the marina problem, Murat Bekiroğlu said:

“It would be beneficial to make new investments on appropriate treasury lands, not on Turkey’s paradise bays. The private sector and investors need incentives and support for investments in marinas, yacht docks and private boat shelters. With new investments, the supply-demand balance will be achieved and the way for our country to earn more foreign currency will be opened. Those who want to start sailing with boats of approximately 10 meters in length are stuck with marina prices. For example, those who want to buy a boat worth 30-40 thousand Euros and go to sea take a step back when they see the prices in marinas. In other words, we are offending people even as we begin maritime activities in our country, which is surrounded by seas on three sides. That’s why it is essential to build landing ramps to the sea as soon as possible and to invest in new coastal facilities (marina, yacht pier, private boat shelters) required to accommodate private boats. However, now we are faced with very interesting examples. In Monaco, France, which is the center of Europe, the daily mooring price for a 42-meter boat in the marina in high season is 650 Euros. When the same boat comes to Göcek and wants to enter the marina, a fee of 1,200 Euros is requested for one day. We also have very high prices compared to marinas in countries such as Greece, Italy and Croatia, which are famous for their bays in Europe. While a boat wanting to enter a marina in Bodrum pays 700 Euros per day, there are places in Greece where you can stay for 35 Euros per day. Our relevant ministries need to determine pilot locations in the regions starting from Antalya to Istanbul. “Initiatives need to be initiated to invest in new coastal facilities (marina, yacht pier, private boat shelters) required to accommodate private boats in designated places.”

THE MARINA PROBLEM IS GROWING
“One of the biggest problems of the boat and yacht industry is the insufficient capacity in marinas and the rise in prices. “The reason why prices are rising is that supply is far below demand.”

“THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED WASTE COLLECTION BOAT WILL BE EXHIBITED AT OUR BOSPHORUS BOAT SHOW LAND FAIR IN FEBRUARY 2024. “IT WILL START CLEANING THE SEA BY GOING AROUND GOCEK AND ITS SURROUNDINGS IN APRIL 2024.”

YATED President Murat Bekiroğlu, talking about the work they initiated by pointing out the fact that water sports are not prominent enough in our country despite being surrounded by sea on three sides, made the following evaluation; “We need to increase the interest in the sea from 7 to 70. As YATED, we aim to both develop our sector and provide more added value to our country by increasing the number of our incentive events. “As part of our ‘Sailors go to sea’ project, we organize discounts and scholarships for our association’s members’ employees, spouses, children and the entire family for introductory sailing, advanced sailing and sailing racing training.”

Bekiroğlu, who made a statement about YATED, which carried out an admirable social responsibility work on July 1, bringing the elderly and orphans together with the sea on the boat trip on the occasion of Cabotage Day, said: We brought approximately 150 people to the sea with YATED Boat. We bring together our elderly people in need and our children in need, who live in Istanbul but have never seen the sea, experienced the sea or, in the worst case scenario, never taken a Bosphorus tour, so that they can meet, have fun and have a nice moment. “We are happy to celebrate Maritime and Cabotage Day with our nursing home residents and children, who are very valuable to us.”