INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS OF THE TURKISH MARITIME CLUSTER OF INDUSTRIES

This study analyses the international competitiveness of the maritime industry in Turkiye. The national merchant fleet has been subject to rapid expansions within the past few years. There has also been a boom in the shipbuilding industry. At the same time, maritime related industries have started to emerge. Recently, it is often heard that the Turkish shipping is expected to become one of the leading maritime nations of the world within five to ten years. This study considers the use of a strategic analysis for the Turkish maritime industry as the framework for defining the need of a long term strategy for the Turkish shipping. The framework on which an environmental analysis is used as the base of the theory is the work of Porter ( 1990) , the so called "Porter's Diamond". It attempts to identify whether the conditions necessary for making a country a favourite home base for an industry in the context of global competition is present in the Turkish maritime cluster. This study also underlines the current situation of the Turkish maritime cluster of industries. A detailed overview on the core industries of the cluster, i.e. the Turkish shipping and shipbuilding industries and those related and supporting them is made. Finally, the study compares the current situation of the cluster with that of an advanced maritime nation, Norway, and recommendations for achieving a healthier growth are made. The Turkish industry lacks a long term strategy. The main objective of this study is to provide a framework, which can be taken further for the development of a long-term strategy and eventually a shipping policy