The global leader in container transportation, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), establishes its prominent presence in Türkiye through its comprehensive operations encompassing sea, land, rail, and port activities. We interviewed the story, plans, and marble transportation solutions of the MSC Group with MSC Türkiye Deputy General Manager of Trade, Hayati Demirer.
“Our employees are the lifeblood of the company; They are dedicated, loyal and determined. This, along with its unrivaled expertise, makes MSC the transport company of choice.”
Captain Gianluigi Aponte
Starting from the founding story of MSC Group, can you tell us about the development process of the company until today?
MSC started its activities in the maritime sector in our country by establishing its agency in Turkey in 1995. Since then, it has established itself as a major player in the industry. Just four years later, it launched its first transpacific service with a connection to Turkey to provide more comprehensive services and expand its reach. With this step, it started its stable growth journey in Turkey. In line with developing demands, MSC Turkey has reached a wide operational network with 15 local offices and more than 1,000 employees. In this process, it grew by expanding its service scope by offering different logistics services. In this context, MEDLOG Logistics was established in 2011. Today, with this brand, MSC Group offers road and rail transportation services with 800 tractors and 386 wagons, as well as a wide range of logistics services such as door-to-door and transit transportation, project transportation and storage. Aiming to provide effective and competitive logistics solutions to its customers, Medlog continues to invest in its operations to improve its services in Turkey.
With the establishment of Asyaport, Turkey’s largest transit container port, in Tekirdağ in 2015, MSC Turkey’s activities in the region were further strengthened. Asyaport is located in a strategic location with its advanced technological infrastructure to meet the increasing demand in container transportation in Turkey and its surroundings. It is also necessary to mention MEDLOG Shipping, MSC Group’s Turkish flagged ship investment. With the establishment of Medlog Shipping in 2015, we are now starting to operate in the field of ship management. Currently, Medlog Shipping, with its 10 ships, provides services in both Turkish and international waters.
What are MSC Group’s main areas of activity and could you give information about the services it provides in these areas?
MSC Group’s main areas of activity are maritime and logistics services. MSC focuses on maritime transportation with its extensive port network. While MEDLOG offers road and rail transportation and storage services, Asyaport operates with its uninterrupted port expertise and MEDLOG Shipping provides services in the field of maritime transportation with Turkish Flag ships.
What measures does the company take regarding sustainability and environmental responsibility?
As MSC Group, we have a unique approach to sustainability. We firmly establish and reflect this approach to creating a sustainable future in all areas of our business.
We enable our MSC fleet to use zero-carbon fuels and ensure that carbon emissions are reduced in our global logistics network. Aiming to be carbon neutral, we support logistics transition solutions and focus on energy efficiency.
In addition, in today’s digital age, we offer myMSC, which supports daily operations such as receiving quotes and ship tracking, and MSC electronic bill of lading (eBL), which aims to reduce paper use while accelerating processes. With these applications, we enable paperless transactions and act more environmentally friendly, leaving less carbon footprint on the world.
We contribute to a balanced transportation system that does not harm the nature by developing fuel saving projects with MEDLOG Logistics, which carries out road and rail transportation. In recent months, we have been entitled to receive the “Green Logistics Certificate” by developing our environmentally friendly transportation and distribution systems in line with the goal of reducing carbon emissions.
At the same time, we pay attention to the use of renewable energy resources in our Asyaport. We strive to be the greenest port in Turkey with transfer vehicles powered by liquid natural gas and port shore cranes powered by electricity. In this context, we have been contributing to nature by protecting approximately 80,000 trees every year by investing in solar energy systems since 2015, the date our port was established. We also provide electrical energy by sending waste to recycling facilities in our port, which is frequented by ships.
In short, we are working with all our strength for a greener future.
What is the importance of logistics management in the marble transportation process and what strategy do you follow in this regard?
Logistics management in the marble transportation process is of critical importance to ensure fast and reliable delivery to customers, optimize transit times and gain a competitive advantage in international trade. As MSC Group, we adopt a strategic approach on this issue and take various steps to provide the best service to our customers.
We fully manage our customers’ transportation needs from start to delivery. We work with our expert teams to support our customers at every stage of the logistics process and offer customized solutions. We participate as visitors in marble fairs held in different provinces of Turkey and receive feedback from our customers. Additionally, we look forward to taking our place at the 29th Marble İzmir Fair with our own stand, having face-to-face meetings with our customers and following the current developments in the sector closely. We will be happy to host all fair participants at our stand number 253 in Hall A.
What advantages do you provide to companies in the sector regarding marble transportation?
. We are working on our ports where marble cargoes are concentrated. Medlog provides a filling service for the loads coming with MSC, and we can use the railway within the scope of combined transportation. In addition, we bring our service to the closest location to our customers by calling at regional ports such as Antalya, Samsun and Trabzon. Thus, we provide marble producers in the regions with a faster and easier option for their overseas exports.
However, you know that today’s attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea lead to crises in the global supply chain. As MSC, the world leader in container transportation, we launched our Red Sea Express service, which does not stop at Yemen, where attacks were carried out to access the Red Sea. We reach Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Port from Mersin Port with medium-sized ships that will cross the Suez in a short time of 3 days. From there, we can deliver to other Gulf countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and UAE with trucks. At the same time, with our route change, our Far East service continues its weekly route without interruption.
What are MSC Group’s future strategies and objectives?
We constantly work to provide end-to-end and reliable services to our customers, and our biggest goal is to always improve these services. With different transportation solutions such as sea, road, railway and port services, we always offer our customers the most effective and efficient services that meet all their needs. We follow sustainability trends in the industry and implement our solutions to reduce our environmental impact for a more sustainable future. At the same time, we make our operations more efficient by closely monitoring technological developments and constantly integrate new technologies to provide better service to our customers.
As MSC Group, we review and improve our strategies to maintain customer satisfaction and our leading position in the industry. We will continue to work to respond quickly and effectively to our customers’ needs in the future.
+90 532 585 51 95
+90 532 585 51 95