World Bank Workshop on “Women and Decarbonization in the Maritime Sector” Concluded
The international workshop on “Women and Decarbonization in Maritime: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Recommendations”, organized by the World Bank with support from PROBLUE, was successfully held in Istanbul on June 23. This year-long research aims to identify the barriers women face in the maritime sector, highlight participation opportunities, and develop policy and institutional transformation recommendations. At Arkas Line, we are proud to have contributed to this important initiative through one-on-one interviews, focus group studies, and active participation in the workshops conducted by the World Bank.
The study comprehensively addressed issues such as women’s underrepresentation in the industry, legal and cultural barriers, workplace safety, and unequal access to education. It also highlighted the opportunities presented by the green transition, the importance of female leadership, and the need for inclusive policies developed through public-private collaboration.
Arkas Line was represented in the two workshops held on May 16 and June 23 by Afag Genc (General Manager, Arkas Denizcilik), Serra Tükel (Director of Sustainability, Arkas Maritime Group), and Çiğdem Çapa (Senior HR Manager, Arkas Line). Gender equality and sustainability are not just goals-they are a shared vision for the future for Arkas.
Only together can we shape what lies ahead. We are proud to be a part of this important research on women empowerment in the maritime industry
Green Office Award Ceremony
Green Office Award System: Together We Achieved Sustainability
Arkas Line launched the Green Office Award System with the “Blue for Green” initiative to promote sustainable lifestyles and raise environmental awareness throughout 2024. In this context, a comprehensive project and reward system was implemented that both evaluates the sustainability performance of offices and encourages individual contributions.
As part of the system implemented in all Arkas Line offices in Turkey and abroad, the status of each office was analyzed with a detailed questionnaire consisting of 41 questions, and areas for improvement were scored. For the first time, carbon footprint measurements were also made on an office basis. As a result of these year-long measurements, Arkas Russia was awarded the title of Green Office of the Year 2024 as the office with the highest level of development and the most effective energy saving.
The project was not limited to office practices; an ecopoints system was also implemented, covering the individual contributions of employees. By recording their sustainable behaviors on the application, our employees collected a total of 17,223,695 ecopoints and prevented the emission of approximately 18,315,869 grams of CO₂. Employees who reached 20,000 ecopoints were presented with specially designed tote bags and thermoses with the “Blues for Green” logo. The first 10 employees who collected the most ecopoints in the final of the contest, which lasted until June 2025, had the chance to win electric bicycles, iPad, Apple Watch and gift cards from brands such as Amazon and Patagonia.
At the end of all these efforts, the Arkas Russia office was selected as the Green Office of 2024 and the 10 employees who received awards were presented their prizes at a ceremony held in June at the Arkas Matthey’s Mansion in Izmir. The event included a guided tour of the Carpet Exhibition, followed by the presentation of the awards to the competition winners in the presence of Arkas Shipping’s Executive Committee and management. The ceremony turned into a meaningful and inspiring gathering that reinforced Arkas Line’s sustainability vision.
Arkas Line Supports UN’s Global Call: “Business Call to Action”
Arkas Line has strengthened its sustainability and environmental responsibility efforts and signed the “Business Call to Action for Our Oceans” declaration launched at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC).
Oceans carry 80% of the world’s trade and provide livelihoods for more than 3 billion people. Therefore, protecting marine ecosystems and preventing pollution is crucial for both environmental and economic sustainability. With this awareness, Arkas Line is committed to investing in long-term environmental projects and playing an active role on a global scale. Signed at UNOC3 on June 8, 2025, this call aims to protect at least 30% of the oceans by 2030 and to increase business support for sustainable development goals such as life below water (SDG14) and life on land (SDG15).
This step once again demonstrates Arkas Line’s commitment to the environment and its vision of a sustainable future.
UN Global Compact Panel – Nature Compatible Business Models for Biodiversity
As part of World Environment Day, an online webinar titled “Nature Compatible Business Models for Biodiversity” was organized by UN Global Compact Turkey on Tuesday, June 3. In the webinar, examples of good practices from different sectors were shared, and the diversity and applicability of nature compatible business models were demonstrated.
The webinar started with the opening message of UN Global Compact Turkey Chairman Ahmet Dördüncü and the speech of Sylvie Josel from UN Global Compact and continued with the information shared by Ayşe Mine Doğan from WWF-Turkey on the relationship between nature and business. She gave information about TNFD and SBTi-Nature, framework tools that support companies in this area.
In the panel section, Serra Tukel, Arkas Maritime Group Sustainability Director, Linda Strindevall, Environment and Climate Change Manager at OX2, a Swedish company operating in the field of renewable energy, and Una Meriläinen, Sustainability Manager for Nature and Biodiversity at Huhtamaki, a Finnish sustainable packaging industry leader, shared their best practices and experiences on nature-compatible business models.
As Arkas Line, we aim to make a positive contribution to society, nature and our seas through our cooperation with NGOs such as Turmepa and the Association for the Protection of Marine Life, while improving the importance we attach to the protection of the seas and marine biodiversity year by year with our greenhouse gas emission reduction projects, ship modifications and biofuel use.
Arkas Line’s Meaningful Contribution to Earth Day
Arkas Line contributed to environmental sustainability in cooperation with ecording for Earth Day on April 22nd. A total of 1,700 seed balls were delivered to specific areas in Muğla by ecoDrone technology on behalf of each employee. The seeds, consisting of Red Pine and Larch species, will be used for the ecological restoration of approximately 213 square meters of land, and are expected to sequester 61 tons of carbon over 40 years. This meaningful step is an indication of Arkas Line’s respect for nature and the future. Another important aspect of the project is that the seed balls, which are planted in hard-to-reach areas, are produced by women living in rural areas most affected by the climate crisis. In this way, both environmental and social benefits are created, protecting nature and supporting women’s labor.
Earth Day is an important day of awareness that first came to the agenda at the UNESCO Earth Conference in 1969 and started to be celebrated on a global scale since the 1970s. Celebrated in nearly 200 countries every year with various activities, this day aims to draw attention to environmental pollution, global warming, and depletion of natural resources. In 2016, the Paris Climate Agreement was signed on this special date, making Earth Day a historic turning point in the climate struggle.
This step we have taken on Earth Day is a strong part of our goal to green not only today but also tomorrow. We believe that a system that values both the environment and people is possible, and we emphasize that sustainability is not just a goal, but a collective responsibility.
Collaboration between Narlıdere Vocational High School and Poland within the scope of the H.U.G. Talent Program for Students
Arkas Line provided sectoral knowledge and experience support to the Erasmus+ cooperation between Arkas Narlıdere Vocational High School and Zespół Szkół Technicznych Nr 1 school in Chorzów, Poland, within the framework of the HUG Exploring module developed for high school students within the scope of the H.U.G. Talent Program. Within the scope of this meaningful cooperation, 13 students aged 15-17 and 2 teachers came to Izmir from Poland and had the opportunity to observe the maritime sector on site.
Thanks to this cooperation:
– We introduced our students to the maritime sector at an early age,
– We broadened their vision through international interaction,
– We offered an inclusive development environment for future professionals who will add value to the industry.
This international project raised awareness of the maritime industry not only among Arkas Narlıdere students but also among participants from Poland. This meeting, which was also an opportunity to establish an intercultural bond, was organized by our Human Resources Director, Ms. Senem Kaçamak Susuzlu. Senem Kaçamak Susuzlu, our Human Resources Director and Mr. Ozan Taylan Uzel, our CBSO. With the participation of our Human Resources Director Ms. Senem Kaçamak Susuzlu and our CBSO Mr. Ozan Taylan Uzel, it turned into an inspiring experience for the students.
News from Turkey and the World
“Sustainable Shipping and Ports in Turkey” Workshop successfully held in Ankara on May 30
Turkey’s low-carbon transformation process in maritime transport and port infrastructure was comprehensively discussed at the “Sustainable Shipping and Ports in Turkey Final Workshop” held in Ankara on Friday, May 30, 2025. At the event, which was held with the support of the World Bank’s PROBLUE program, the roadmap that will guide the decarbonization process was presented to the public.
At the workshop, many stakeholders from public institutions to the private sector, international organizations and civil society representatives shared their knowledge and experiences on the production, distribution and integration of alternative marine fuels into systems.
Opening speeches were delivered by Humberto Lopez, World Bank Country Director for Turkey; Tamer Kıran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IMEAK Chamber of Shipping; Maria Louisa Wyganowski, Head of Cooperation Department at the EU Delegation to Turkey; Öztürk Selvitop, Director General of Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources; and Durmuş Ünüvar, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.
Digitalization & Blockchain in Sustainability
Ship digital logging systems (E-log, IoT) are becoming widespread in the US, Turkey and the EU. A study published in Arxiv reveals that digital systems will be useful in monitoring environmental regulations under MARPOL. Emission data measured by IoT sensors can be stored in a decentralized, immutable way with blockchain technology. Compliance violations are automatically reported to the relevant authorities. This system reduces human error and enables fast and transparent regulatory interventions.
Net Zero Movement from IMO: New Rules on the Way
At IMO’s MEPC 83 meeting, held on April 7-11, 2025, legal and global regulations were approved to support maritime transport to reach the net zero target.The binding IMO Net Zero Framework is adopted for the first time, while the Global Fuel Intensity Standard (GFI) for ships over 5,000 GT will enter into force by 2028.
Under the Data Collection System (DCS) framework, non-anonymized data will be shared with parties, while anonymized data will be made public, ensuring greater transparency. In addition, the first reporting of the IMO Net Zero Fund, created to provide incentives for low-emission ships and R&D support, will be made on January 1, 2028.
In line with the CII Amendments, it is aimed to reduce CO2 emissions from ships by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2008. On the other hand, the regulatory framework for carbon capture and storage systems on ships has been launched and is planned to be completed by 2028. Finally, within the scope of the Marine Plastic Litter Action Plan, a new roadmap to reduce the environmental risks of ship-source plastic waste was also approved as well.
The Future of Carbon-Free Shipping Ammonia
Finnish engineering firm Wärtsilä is positioning ammonia, a bonded form of hydrogen, as a zero-carbon marine fuel. The first application of this fuel, which will start on offshore service vessels in 2026, has a high energy density and relatively low storage cost. Since ammonia is structurally toxic, advanced safety infrastructures are being developed in both fuel supply and exhaust processing systems.
Methanol, an alternative marine fuel, can offer carbon emission reductions of up to 95% when produced from waste or renewable sources. By developing methanol systems that can be integrated into existing engines, Wärtsilä is contributing to the widespread use of this fuel in maritime transportation. While fossil-based production is still dominant, investments in green methanol are increasing.
The solutions developed by Wärtsilä include carbon pricing, hybrid engines, green fuels, and digital synchronization. If all these components can be implemented effectively, up to 95% of carbon emission reductions in maritime transport will be possible. Wärtsilä CEO Håkan Agnevall emphasizes the importance of collaboration for this fundamental change. He emphasizes that no single actor can be sufficient in this process; shipyards, fuel suppliers, shipowners and technology companies must act together.