After graduating from Marmara University Faculty of Law in 2004, Çağdaş Kırcalı joined Omur Marine in 2010 after completing his master's program in law, commercial and international law at Queen Mary University of London with distinction and obtaining a postgraduate certificate in maritime law. He has successfully completed residential and distance learning courses in P&I Insurance and Loss Prevention and has passed the one-to-one in-office training program with the North of England P&I Association with distinction. With a strong maritime claims specialist background, he has handled all types of P&I claims and has been involved in a significant number of large casualty and FD&D insurance disputes. He specializes in maritime law, insurance law, marine environmental law and employment law.
Captain I. Arif BOSTAN was born in Trabzon in 1969. After completing his primary, secondary and high school education, Arif Bostan graduated from ITU Maritime Faculty as a Deck Officer in 1992. Mr. Bostan, who worked mainly as officer and captain in tanker companies, worked at Istanbul VTS between 2004-2007. Since 2008, Bostan has been working as a Maritime Pilot at GİSAŞ and is currently the Chairman of TÜRDEF. Prior to this position, Mr. Bostan served as the Chairman of Turkish Ocean-going Masters’ Association for two terms.
Sinan Ünlü, who graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Law, has been registered as a lawyer with the Istanbul Bar Association with the registration number 27609 since 12.12.2002. Since 01.06.2017, he has the Ministry of Justice Mediation authorization. He has expertise in Maritime Labor Law, Ship Creditor Rights, Execution and Litigation Proceedings Based on Statutory Lien and Mortgage Rights, Sale of Vessels by Foreclosure, Negotiation and Mediation Activities with P&I Insurance Clubs, Insurance Law, Resolution of Disputes Arising from Insurance Contracts and Damage and Compensation Procedures, Air and Marine Transport Insurance Claims, Accidents, Land Vehicles, Watercraft, Fire and Natural Disasters, Principles of Liability, Contract Law and Regulatory Compliance.
Born 1969 in Numansdorp, The Netherlands. Studied at the Secondary Technical School in Rotterdam, graduating in 1997. After various technical jobs on board ships, he started working as an ITF inspector in 2003. Obtained certificate of competence in ILO MLC 2006 in 2011. Now involved in training new ITF inspectors.
Dr. Muslu graduated from Muğla University, Department of Economics in 2001. He completed his master's degree in Management and Work Psychology at Marmara University in 2008 and his PhD in Maritime Business Management at Istanbul University in 2015. Prior to his academic career, he worked in the private sector as a ship operations manager and yacht manager. With an academic career spanning over five years since 2015, the author has conducted research focusing on maritime tourism management, maritime management, labor relations, quality management, human resource management and interdisciplinary perspectives. Dr. Muslu has published more than 56 articles in relevant journals, books and conferences. The author is currently an Associate Professor in Maritime Business Management at Samsun University, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences.
Christian Roos was born on March 6, 1968 in Bruges, Belgium. Christian speaks and writes Dutch and English. In March 2004 he was appointed ITF inspector in Belgium in the ports of Zeebrugge, Antwerpen and Ghent. Since 2007, he has been involved in the training of new ITF inspectors in the ITF's in-house induction program. He has been a field trainer within the ITF inspectorate since 2006. In 2015, 2021 and 2023 he was invited as a guest facilitator for MLC training courses at the ITC-ILO training center in Turin. Christian Roos is recognized as an MLC expert by the Belgian Port State Control (part of the federal government). Christian Roos is an official member of the Belgian "Paritair Comité 316", a tripartite body representing the Belgian Government, the Belgian maritime unions and the Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association.
Born in 1965 in Giresun. He graduated from Ordu Maritime High School. In 1989, he completed his master's degree in Maritime Economics at Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics. In 1992, he completed his master's degree at Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, Department of Industrial Relations. He received his PhD degree in Industrial Relations from Istanbul University in 1998. After graduating from high school, he worked as a captain on various ships in TDİ City Lines and IDO. Between 1995 and 1999, he served as the Secretary General of the Seafarers' Union of Turkey. Between 2007-2009, he served as the Branch President of the Seafarers' Union of Turkey. Between 2009-2019, he served as the General President of the Seafarers' Union of Turkey. He has been a lecturer at various universities. He has written books on maritime labor law. He served as an expert witness in courts. He is currently working as an industrial relations consultant.
After working as seafarer for several years, John Canias started to work for ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation). He is now Maritime Operations Coordinator at ITF.
I was born in Aksehir, Konya, Turkiye, in 1962, and graduated from the Maritime Transportation and Management Section of Merchant Marine Academy – Istanbul (current name: The Maritime Faculty of I.T.U.) in 1983. After completed compulsory sea service at the government company Turkish D.B. Deniz Nakliyat T.A.S.- Istanbul in 1984, as deck officer, and mandatory military service in 1985, he continued his career as Crewing Department Manager (and some other positions) in Semih Sohtorik and Cornships shipping companies (1986-2022). Aydın Soylu currently continues his professional life as a technical consultant in Arkas Shipping company.
Born in 1970 in Morocco, he holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Moroccan and Belgian universities respectively. He is currently the union officer in charge of the Port of Bilbao (Spain). He is responsible for organizing union members, collective bargaining, membership, etc. Since 2001 ITF Inspector based in Bilbao and responsible for the North-West Spanish ports. Since 2018, Coordinator of the ITF FOC Arab World and Iran Network. His duties include assisting seafarers and working on their grievances, working with ITF affiliated unions and maritime authorities and shipping companies in the region on collective bargaining, education and training, among others. He participates in the training program for new ITF Inspectors and ITF Union Awareness Seminars.
He was born in Kadıköy, Istanbul in 1970. After graduating from ITU Maritime Faculty in 1995, he worked as an engineer on various ships. Between 1998-2007, he worked as a lecturer at ITU Maritime Vocational Collage. Muzaffer Civelek is a founding member of the Maritime Employees’ Solidarity Association and currently serves on its member of executive board. Since 2007, as an ITF Turkey inspector, he has been inspecting the working and living conditions on board ships and solving the problems of seafarers.
Pascal Pouille started working as an ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) inspector after a period as a seaman on various ships. He is currently the ITF Coordinator in Dunkirk.
Paul Falzon is the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Inspector in Malta, since 2012, after being nominated by the General Workers Union in Malta as the ITF affiliate union. For the last twenty-eight years he has been a port worker, working as a stevedore with involvement in the trade union sector and which eventually led him to be appointed as the ITF’s Inspector in Malta. During his time as an ITF Inspector, mainly involved in the Flag of Convenience campaign, he has been engaged in several handling of cases involving seafarers, leading to negotiations with ship owners/managers and authorities and even ship arrests.
Şadan Kaptanoğlu is a shipowner and a shipyard owner. She completed her Phd in De Montfort University after she graduated from Bayes Business School, MSC Shipping, Finance and Trade. Şadan Kaptanoğlu was the first woman President of BIMCO. Şadan Kaptanoğlu is also the chairperson of TURMEPA (Turkish Marine Environment Protection Association). Şadan is the first winner of Seatrade young person of the year award in 2008. She is married, has two daughters.
He graduated from ITU Maritime Faculty in 1994 and is currently working as a lecturer at Dokuz Eylül University, Maritime Faculty, Maritime Business Management.
Duygu Yazıcı has been working as an associate at Ülgener Law Firm since 2013, following the completion of her legal internship at Ülgener Law Firm and her short-term internship at Holman Fenwick Willan Law Firm's London office. She focuses on maritime and insurance law, including maritime labour law, marine accidents, cargo damage, marine pollution, ship and yacht trading, insurance and reinsurance. She wrote her master's thesis on the "International Convention on the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976", an international convention to which the Republic of Turkey is a party. He took part in the working commission established under the umbrella of the Chamber of Shipping in order to review the Maritime Labour Law as a result of the harmonisation of national legislation with another international convention, the "Maritime Labour Convention, MLC 2006", which introduces regulations in the field of maritime labour law and other requirements arising from maritime labour practice, and also took part in the meetings of the "MLC Harmonisation Commission" established by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Ankara.
Born in 1972 in Zonguldak, Ural Çağırıcı graduated from Ereğli Anatolian High School in 1990 and from ITU Maritime Faculty in 1995. After working on various types of ships for a while, he served as a lecturer at ITU Maritime Vocational Collage between 1998-2006. He is a founding member and Chairman of DAD-DER. He has participated in various national and international maritime projects and workshops and participated in ITF delegations to ILO, WHO and IMO conferences.
In 1994, Yusuf Zorba graduated from ITU Maritime Faculty and is currently working as Associate Professor at Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Maritime Studies.
He studied at the Naval War College between 1977-1981. Between 1981-1986, he served as a naval officer in units under the Naval Forces Command. Between 1987-2003, he worked as a deck officer and captain on merchant ships for 16 years. He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law in 2002. He started his legal career in 2003 at a British Maritime Consultancy firm based in Istanbul, where he worked until he founded TCG FORA LAW OFFICE with his partners in 2008. He specializes in maritime law, litigation and arbitration, charterparty and bill of lading disputes, ship purchase and sale, shipbuilding contracts. He also advises the shipping and insurance industries. He is a permanent member of the LMAA.
Ali Ibrahim Kontaytekin was born in İstanbul, on 06th Jan.1961. Graduated The Maritime Faculty of I.T.U in 1983. After long years in sea service, started as Cadet and left as Ocean Going Master in bulkers for 13 years. He, later started as Fleet Operation Manager, later General Manager in Arkas Holding Fleet Management. For 2 years became Vice President, Arkas Shipping. He is also The Vice President of the Turkish Ownership Association, The president of the Employers Union of Turkish Shipowners and member of Safety&Loss Advisory Comittee of The Standard Club, London.
Born on 4 June 1978 in Tokat, married with one child, Prof. Dr. Özcan Arslan is a graduate of ITU Maritime Faculty and holds a Ocean Going Master licence. Currently serving as the Dean of ITU Maritime Faculty, Prof. Arslan has various consultancy services as well as refereeing experience in various scientific boards such as Journal of Maritime Policy & Managemenet. Özcan Arslan is also a member of the Executive Board of the Maritime Education Evaluation and Accreditation Association and a Trustee of the ITU Maritime Faculty Alumni Social Assistance Foundation.
