Stating that as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, they touch every aspect of life, Minister Karaismailoğlu stated that one of the most important of the 5 transportation modes is maritime.
Pointing out that shipping is the backbone and sine qua non of export transportation, Minister Karaismailoğlu said, “We absolutely need to direct the 2030 billion-ton world trade movement that will be reached in 3.5 from Istanbul. Again, Turkey and Istanbul need to have a say in the trade activity that will reach 25 billion tons in the world. That's why we need to be prepared for serious mega projects."
“The Shipyard Istanbul will be put into service in stages at the end of 2022”
Emphasizing that the Shipyard Istanbul will be put into service by the end of 2022 in stages, Minister Karaismailoğlu said, “When it is finished, this place will be one of the places that will give great value to Istanbul, especially with its museums, theater-cinema halls and social areas. We chose to hold the first Maritime Summit here, as this place has the characteristics of a shipyard and its connection with maritime. Every friend of ours looks at him in astonishment, saying, 'Oh, was there such a place here? I hope this place will be a much more valuable place after it is finished," he said.
Transport and Communications Council to be held in early October
Minister Karaismailoğlu, who also gave information about the "Transportation and Communication Council" to be held at the beginning of October, stated that they will discuss and talk about all transportation modes in an international meeting and that the preparations are continuing strictly.
Noting that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is one of the most important ministries of the Republic of Turkey, Karaismailoğlu said, “You have to be prepared for the needs of the day, the evolving needs and the needs that will arise. That's why you need to have a master plan. You need to have a master plan not only in sea, but also in road, air, rail systems and communication. Because needs are developing, standards are rising, technologies are developing, mobility is increasing and it is constantly building on it. That's why you have to have 5-year, 10-year and 50-year plans. It is not possible to manage the state without a master plan. Especially for our own country. We have little money, but we have to provide maximum benefit with this little money. In particular, we need to spare time and do the planning stages, studies and project design skills very well. It is necessary to devote a lot of time to them and produce in a short time. In order to achieve this maximum benefit, we need to plan the planning phase very well.”
“Maritime is the backbone of export transportation”
Pointing out that shipping is the backbone and indispensable part of export transportation, Karaismailoğlu said:
“There is an annual trade volume of 710 billion dollars from China to Europe in the world. In Turkey, right in the middle between China and Europe, in the center of Eurasia. We need to turn the advantages of our geographical location into an opportunity. You need to turn this into an opportunity and you need to direct the transportation movements in the world. You need to be a global logistics planner. Because you are right in the center of Eurasia. Even now, the trade volume in the world is 12 billion tons, of which 1.7 billion tons circulate in the Black Sea. However, the doubling of this amount in the next 2030 is the amount of this burden that will reach 2 billion tons in the world and 25 billion tons around the Black Sea. At the moment, the only outlet of this trade lake in the Black Sea is the Bosphorus, after all, there are serious problems we are experiencing even here. We still experience these problems today. But we need to be prepared for the next 3.5. We must direct the global trade movement of 2030 billion tons, which will be reached in 2030, from Istanbul. Again, Turkey and Istanbul need to have a say in the trade activity that will reach 3.5 billion tons in the world. That's why we need to be prepared for serious mega projects."
Talking about the mega projects carried out throughout Turkey, Karaismailoğlu noted that these projects are pieces of a puzzle.
“The pollution and environmental pollution created by the ships waiting in line in the Bosphorus in the Sea of Marmara is one of the reasons for the mucilage we are talking about right now”
Pointing to the dozens of ships waiting in line to pass through the Bosphorus in Marmara, Minister Karaismailoğlu said, “The pollution they create in the Sea of Marmara, the environmental pollution released by exhaust emissions by burning hundreds of liters of fuel even when idle, is one of the reasons for the mucilage we are talking about at the moment. temperature in sea water. The effect of the dozens of ships here. If you do not find a solution here and produce alternative waterways, these tens of ships will turn into hundreds of ships in a few years.”
Underlining that there are dozens of requests waiting for events in the Bosphorus, Karaismailoğlu noted that they could not allow events due to the traffic in the Bosphorus. Karaismailoğlu said that when the alternative Istanbul Canal is built, there will be more time for the activities here.
“Canal Istanbul is 78 percent natural canal”
Stating that the length of Canal Istanbul will be 45 kilometers, Minister Karaismailoğlu said, “Currently, 78 percent of it is a natural canal. There will be a serious land movement in the remaining 22 percent," he said.
“Scientists have done studies”
Referring to the scientific studies on the protection of water resources, Karaismailoğlu said, “Studies, feasibility and studies were carried out with more than 30 scientists in approximately 200 sectors related to water resources. As a result of these studies and reports, we talk about them. This route was determined at the end of those studies.”
Explaining that with the 3 new dams to be built, they will bring more of the water reserves to be lost from Sazlıdere to Istanbul, Minister Karaismailoğlu underlined that there will be no water shortage.
"Experts, scientists have made the point that this will have no effect on the earthquake"
Regarding the "earthquake triggering" discussions over Kanal Istanbul, Karaismailoğlu said, "The depth of the canal is 20,75 meters. There is Vezneciler metro station right next to us, at a depth of 60 meters. There is also a metro station in Bağcılar, at a depth of about 60 meters. At that time, the subways were not built. In other words, establishing a connection between Kanal Istanbul and a movement thousands of meters below is a pointless endeavor. Already, experts and scientists have made the point that this will not have any effect on the earthquake," he said.
In addition, Minister Karaismailoğlu stated that Kanal Istanbul will not cause problems regarding the Montreux Straits Convention and defense areas.
Canal Istanbul will be completed in 6 years
Stating that they aim to start Kanal Istanbul this year and finish it in 6 years, as one year of preparation and 5 years of production, Karaismailoğlu talked about the financing of Kanal Istanbul and the countries interested in the project:
“We are also planning alternative income-generating works so that the finance, which we call 15 billion dollars here, is not a burden to the general budget. Here, a significant income will be provided from ship transits. This will be the main main income item anyway. Apart from this, there will be very important port investments, especially on the Black Sea coast. After the Kanal Istanbul investment, there will be a port manufacturer here in a very serious way. Again, as an alternative to this, serious income sources will come from the ports we will build in the Black Sea. In addition, the works that we will do in the Kanal Istanbul reserve area, the marinas… We are trying to produce a Kanal Istanbul that will produce its own ecosystem. Together with the income-generating works here, it will both meet its own production financing and later on, it will be a very important investment that will generate income for our country. In such a big project in the world, all the big infrastructure companies want to be. They also come with us, get information about the project, and prepare for finance and construction work. Our talks with the world's largest infrastructure companies that build the Suez Canal and other canals continue.”
Minister Karaismailoğlu also said that Kanal Istanbul will finance itself within 12 years.
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