The ‘Shipping Route Istanbul’ maritime conference is taking place for the third time this year. Germany has been named as the official guest country. High-ranking industry representatives will be speaking on the Bosphorus.
The Association of Turkish Coastal Shipowners and Operators (KOSDER) is bringing together German shipowners and leading representatives of the maritime sector in Istanbul as part of ‘Shiproute ’26’ to strengthen cooperation between the Turkish and German shipping industries.
Organised by KOSDER, the ‘Shipping Route Istanbul 2026’ event will take place for the third time this October at the Divan Kuruçeşme event centre in Istanbul. More than 600 shipowners, executives, representatives of financial institutions and public authorities, as well as international experts from the maritime sector, are expected to attend the event, which is situated directly on the Bosphorus.
Following Greece and the Netherlands in previous editions, Germany is this year’s official guest country. The aim of “Shiproute ’26” is to deepen the strong maritime ties between Türkiye and Germany through new business and strategic partnerships. Both countries possess complementary strengths in the areas of shipowning, shipbuilding and repair, financing, green transition and maritime technology.
“Germany is one of the world’s leading markets for maritime technology, green transformation and professional fleet management,” explained KOSDER President Neslihan Torlak. “Türkiye, for its part, has a strong fleet of coastal vessels, a dynamic shipping industry and significant capabilities in shipbuilding and repair. Combining these strengths can open up important opportunities – not only for both countries, but also for the international maritime industry.”
Torlak, who holds a degree in naval architecture and marine engineering and has extensive management experience in Istanbul and Hamburg, emphasises that “Shiproute ’26” is intended to be more than a conventional conference: it serves as a platform for direct business contacts and new partnerships.
High-level industry representatives in Istanbul
“Shiproute ’26” brings together high-level representatives from the worlds of diplomacy, politics, shipping, finance and the private sector. Representatives of international maritime associations and leading German organisations within the sector will also be attending, thereby creating new opportunities for cooperation between companies, decision-makers and industry institutions.
Notable guests, speakers and panellists from Germany include, amongst others, Regine Grienberger, Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Istanbul; Gaby Bornheim, President of the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR); Martin Kröger, Chief Executive of the VDR; and Nils Aden, President of EISAP and Managing Director of the Harren Group. High-profile guests, speakers and panellists from Türkiye include, amongst others, Durmuş Ünüvar, Deputy Minister for Transport and Infrastructure; Tamer Kiran, President of the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping; Metin Düzgit, Vice-Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS); and Orhan Özalp, Chief Country Officer at Deutsche Bank Turkey.
Geopolitics, finance and the green transition
The programme will focus on geopolitical developments and their impact on shipping, ship finance, the EU ETS and FuelEU regulations, decarbonisation and digital transformation. The event also offers a platform for intensive B2B networking and concludes with a gala dinner overlooking the Bosphorus.
KOSDER invites international shipping companies, financial institutions, maritime associations and industry representatives – particularly from the German maritime sector – to attend Shiproute ’26 in Istanbul on 8 October 2026. The event will feature a keynote speech, a conference with three panel discussions, a cocktail reception and a gala dinner. Further information on registration and details of the programme can be found at: shiproute.org
