About Us

Shipping business has at least a 5.000-year history and has always progressed arm-in-arm with ship supply business. Dating back to ancient times and having first appeared Ionians period, shipping business is now continued by international scale companies. Turkey has a vital and strategic location where international shipping business is busy; and its straits function as a very important corridor for both countries in the region and those having trade relations with this region on account of the fact that Istanbul and Gallipoli Straits provide the only sea route to the Black Sea. Additionally, each of İzmir, İskenderun and Mersin Ports is significant port centre for merchant vessels in the region they are located. In our country with such an ancient shipping history and significant geographical position, it is inevitable to gather ship supplying activities under an association.

Established in the year 2003 with a view to supporting its members, enabling fulfillment of global trade functions, registration of business organization standards and reflecting the strong vision of being in alliance, Turkish Ship Suppliers Association has become the representative of an important mission since that time.

At a meeting held at Ritz Carlton Hotel on July 4, 2003, our association was enrolled in ISSA (International Ship Suppliers & Services Association) with persistent efforts of Zihni Memişoğlu, our founding chairman, and, accordingly, our association and its member companies took the opportunity to act as a link in international ship supply chain. As a result, our association interacted with about 2000 ship supply companies across the globe, and held a significant position not only in domestic but also in international arena. Membership to ISSA, which has members at all of the important ports across the globe, provided an important expansion on behalf of our association. Our association is represented by Mr. Yorgo Saris at the level of Vice President at ISSA, the international umbrella organization of ship suppliers as well.

Our association, in spite of its being at a young age, successfully hosted ISSA convention meeting held in Istanbul in 2009, thanks to which it reflected its professional manner and hospitality to ISSA directors and participants from leading players of the sector. The architect of that success and founding chairman of our association who carried out his chairmanship task successfully, Zihni Memişoğlu handed over his position to Yorgo Saris in 2011, and a new period started in our association.

Founding Chairman Zihni Memişoğlu became president again after Yorgo Saris's presidency for 8 years in 2021.

One of 43 international associations affiliated to ISSA, all of whom are dedicated to offering service in the best quality at the best price, TURSSA, in spite of its being at a young age, has strong values and represents our country successfully in global market.