Mersin Metropolitan Municipality continues to produce permanent solutions to the pollution problem in the seas with an environmentalist approach. In this context, the 'Electronic Ship Control System' (EGDS), which was implemented by the Environmental Protection and Control Department in November 2024, stands out as an effective combat tool against ships polluting the sea. Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, one of the two metropolitan municipalities with marine control authority in Türkiye, has taken an important step in preventing waste-related pollution in the seas with this new system.
Thanks to EGDS, approximately 13 million TL in administrative fines have been imposed on 70 ships to date. This figure clearly shows how effective the system is as a deterrent. In addition to its existing vehicles such as inspection boats and drones, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality continues its surveillance at sea with EGDS on a 7/24 basis. The EGDS network, consisting of 25 different points equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal cameras, radar and artificial intelligence-supported technologies, continuously monitors a wide coastline between Çeşmeli and Kulak. In this way, ship-related pollution is immediately detected and those causing the pollution can be intervened against quickly and effectively.
Mersin Metropolitan Municipality's fight against sea pollution is not limited to EGDS. The 'Blue Card System' implemented also ensures that wastewater and bilge of boats within its jurisdiction are kept under control. Thanks to this system developed for small sea vessels, the type, amount, date and which coastal facility the waste generated on ships is given to can be tracked online. This also plays an important role in preventing pollution of the seas.
Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Department Head Dr. Bülent Halisdemir emphasized that Mersin is one of the two metropolitan cities in Türkiye that conducts ship inspections, and stated that they work on a 7/24 basis. Stating that more than 5 thousand ships that come to Mersin every year are inspected, Dr. Halisdemir said that uninterrupted inspections are carried out in an area of approximately 53,5 kilometers with EGDS. Stating that their aim is to protect the Mersin sea, Dr. Halisdemir stated that thanks to EGDS, records are kept in case of illegal waste discharge, on-site inspections are carried out with sea inspection boats, and samples are sent to accredited laboratories and penalties are applied.
Dr. Halisdemir also stated that some anchorage areas are areas where inspections cannot be carried out due to their lack of authority, and that considering the heavy ship traffic in the Taşucu region, they have applied to the Ministry to transfer the inspection authority for these areas to them. Addressing the maritime sector, Dr. Halisdemir noted that with EGDS, all ships are strictly inspected with special and thermal cameras, the characteristics of the ships can be seen with radar systems, and possible pollution is analyzed with meteorological data. He added that thanks to the system, no detail is overlooked and records can be examined retrospectively.
Maritime Services and Inspection Branch Directorate personnel Mesut Arıcı provided information about the Blue Card System, stating that the system enables online tracking of waste received by small sea vessels and waste acceptance facilities. Arıcı stated that waste is collected with mobile tanks upon the declaration of boat owners, and asked boat owners and citizens to be more sensitive about this issue, emphasizing that they are on duty 7/24.
As a result, applications such as the Electronic Ship Control System and the Blue Card System implemented by the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality are writing an important success story in the fight against pollution in the seas. With the effective use of technology and determined inspections, Mersin's beaches will continue to be transferred to future generations in a cleaner and healthier way.
