Şehir HatlarıIstanbul's unique maritime heritage, the Haliç Shipyard, proudly celebrates its 569th anniversary. A traditional 'number-nailing' ceremony was held at this venerable shipyard, operating under Şehir Hatları, an affiliate of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Şehir Hatları General Manager Güçlü Şeneler and shipyard employees attended the ceremony, commemorating this significant day together.
Haliç Shipyard: A Deep-Rooted History of 569 Years
The Haliç Shipyard was founded by Fatih Sultan Mehmet on December 11, 1455. It holds the distinction of being the world's oldest shipyard, originating from Tersane-i Amire and remaining actively in production to this day. It also occupies a unique place in Turkish maritime history by hosting Şirket-i Hayriye, which laid the foundations for today's Şehir Hatları.
In his speech at the ceremony, Şehir Hatları General Manager Güçlü Şeneler emphasized the immense importance of the Haliç Shipyard for both Turkish and global maritime history. Şeneler stated, “We are proud to be part of a shipyard that has served both Turkey and the world for 569 years. Our greatest responsibility is to keep this place thriving.”
Revitalized Production and Modernization
The Haliç Shipyard revitalized its production capacity, which was at zero in 2019, through extensive efforts. As a result of these endeavors, 63 new vessels have been built to date, and maintenance and repair services have been provided for a total of 450 ships. The shipyard successfully completed the restoration of our historic ferries, including Paşabahçe, Kızıltoprak, and İsmail Hakkı Durusu, bringing them back to Istanbul residents.
Environmentally Friendly and Innovative Sea Transportation Solutions
The Haliç Shipyard is also undertaking modern and environmentally conscious projects. Five of the 50 Sea Taxis produced at the shipyard are designed as electric hybrids. Furthermore, the eco-friendly Sea Dolmuşes, with a capacity of 33 passengers, developed to serve low-density routes, have brought an innovative breath of fresh air to Istanbul's public sea transportation. These Sea Dolmuşes operate on the İstinye-Küçüksu and Beykoz-Sarıyer routes to facilitate the daily lives of Istanbul residents.
The Sea Dolmuşes serving these routes offer a practical and comfortable transportation alternative between important piers such as İstinye, Küçüksu, Beykoz, and Sarıyer.
Sustainable Maritime Future
While meticulously preserving its historical and cultural values, the Haliç Shipyard also embraces modern production processes, continuing to develop sustainable projects for Istanbul's sea transportation. This venerable shipyard, committed to carrying our maritime heritage into the future, will continue to be a valuable asset for the people of Istanbul.