Representatives of Türkiye’s shipbuilding industry have taken part in the Sea-Air-Space 2026, one of the United States’ major maritime and defence exhibitions running from April 19-22.
At the event, where the latest advancements in defence technologies and current strategic developments were discussed, hundreds of companies operating in the maritime and defence sectors — from emerging start-ups to Fortune 500 firms — showcased their products and services.
The Turkish Shipbuilders’ Association (GİSBİR) also participated in the exhibition alongside Intel Marine and other sector stakeholders, promoting the capacity and technological capabilities of Türkiye’s shipbuilding industry.
In a statement issued by GİSBİR, it was noted that the strategic cooperation model presented to the US market aims to provide long-term solutions to capacity needs in the maritime sector.
The statement highlighted the increasing demand and infrastructure needs within the US maritime industry, drawing attention to Türkiye’s globally competitive production capabilities. It added that this model, which brings Türkiye’s high standards in shipbuilding and repair to the US market, aims to elevate commercial and strategic relations between the two countries to a higher level.
It was also stated that, in cooperation with the US-based Intel Marine company, certain Turkish shipyards had initiated the official bidding process for a tender launched by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for light and medium-class icebreakers.
Furthermore, the statement explained that the developed trilateral strategic business model aims to combine the advanced technological expertise of Finnish engineering firms in ice-class vessels, the speed and efficiency of Turkish shipyards in construction processes, and the shipyard infrastructure in the US capable of meeting operational requirements
Mehtap Ozdemir, Secretary General of GİSBİR, stated in an interview that this was the association’s first participation in the Sea-Air-Space exhibition.
Recalling that the United States had long maintained a protectionist policy in the field of shipbuilding, Ozdemir noted that the sector had become more open to cooperation following increased interest in shipbuilding during the administration of US President Donald Trump.
“In this context, we wanted to showcase the capacity of Turkish shipbuilding here,” she said.
Ozdemir pointed out that Türkiye, with its 85 active shipyards, possesses a strong production infrastructure in both commercial and military fields, adding that they aim to further develop this expertise and experience through cooperation with stakeholders in different countries.
Pierce Vanli, GİSBİR’s Representative in the United States and founder of Intel Marine, also stated that they aim to meet the needs of the American shipbuilding industry by following projects in the US and directing them to shipyards in Türkiye.
Vanli added that they aim to ensure the involvement of Turkish shipyards in the design and production processes of light and medium-class icebreaker projects required by the United States Coast Guard.
