With its strong supply chain and operational experience, Arkas continues to lead Türkiye’s emergence as a global player in sustainable maritime shipping. Speaking at Clean Cargo’s international webinar, Arkas Line and Arkas Bunker shared insights on their roles in sustainable maritime practices and evaluated their vision for the future.
While low-emission fuel usage is quickly spreading across the globe, Türkiye is emerging as a strategic center in this transformation. Arkas Bunker is the first ISCC-EU certified maritime biofuel provider in Türkiye, and Arkas Line is the first liner operator to actively use this fuel in its operations.
Arkas Line ve Arkas Bunker shared their leading roles in sustainable maritime transport to attendees at an international event. In the Best Practice Sharing Session webinar held by Clean Cargo, which operates under the Smart Freight Centre and is one of the maritime industry’s most extensive sustainability and decarbonization initiatives, they shared the progression of maritime biofuel in Türkiye, their operational success story, and their future vision with a wide audience.
“Our Responsibility as an Active Member of Clean Cargo Is Significant”
At the opening of the webinar, Serra Tukel, Sustainability Director of Arkas Line Maritime Group, stated that Arkas Line is a proud member of the Clean Cargo Working Group and emphasized the company’s contribution to international sustainability initiatives. Tukel said, “we are not just a member who attends meetings; we value this platform as a space to share our best practices within the global network and actively contribute to the sector’s transformation.”
Tukel stated that Arkas Line’s 27.9% reduction in vessel emissions in 2024, based on 2011 levels, is one of the most concrete indicators of the company’s decarbonization journey. She went on to address the structural barriers that make transformation in the sector difficult. Tukel explained that long vessel lifespans slow down fleet renewal, that the production of zero-carbon fuels is still not widespread globally, and that there are significant gaps in the supply infrastructure for green fuels. Despite these challenges, she noted that operational improvements continue.
Referring to Arkas Line’s future strategy, Tukel stated that the company is accelerating its fleet renewal efforts through retrofit applications, working on new vessel orders with eco-design principles, and aiming to expand the use of biofuel across the fleet.
“Türkiye Is Not Just a Transit Point for Biofuel, But a Center”
Arkas Bunker Sustainability Manager Erdinc Altun, who also spoke at the webinar, underlined that marine biofuel bunkering – launched in Türkiye as a pioneering initiative – has moved beyond an experimental stage and has now become a stable routine operation. Altun stated that Türkiye holds the potential to be a regional “Biofuel Hub,” supported both by its geographical position and its ability to access high-quality, low-emission raw materials.
Altun shared details about Arkas Bunker’s ISCC-EU certified product portfolio (Bio24F, Bio30F and UCOME Biodiesel), noting that they have completed close to 50 successful biofuel deliveries so far. He added that biofuels produced from waste cooking oils reduce emissions without the need for any changes to ship engines.
“We Started with Bio24F, and Now We Are Planning a Transformation That Will Expand to the Entire Fleet”
Arkas Line Global Customer Operations and Sustainability Manager H. Oguz Guneyli shared the results achieved with the use of Bio24F, a first in Türkiye. Guneyli stated that since 2024, 7,000 tons of Bio24F have been used on vessels operated under Arkas Line and Emes, resulting more than 5,800 tons CO₂ emissions.
Guneyli stated that their future plans include budgeting for the use of Bio30F starting in 2026, aiming to increase the emission savings rate from 22.8% to 28%. He also noted that with Arkas Line’s “Book for Green” initiative, customers are offered the option to reduce or neutralize their emissions in sea transportation through a book & claim system.