Speaking at a ceremony held on 15 May in Athens, at the Piraeus Yacht Club, Kaptanoğlu said she was doubly proud as the first woman to be at helm at BIMCO and also to have the opportunity to spread the word about the achievements of the Turkish maritime industry. “This change is taking place on the shoulders of the modern and courageous women and men who are members of BIMCO. I am proud to be a BIMCO member and I will always uphold BIMCO values to the maximum.”
Stating that ship owners are entering into a new era where core values of the shipping industry will be put the test, Kaptanoğlu said: “The environment and climate change are key public concerns and getting the shipping industry to embrace this reality – and delivering the solutions to meet the world’s environmental expectations – will be my priority.”
Speaking at the election, outgoing president Papagiannopoulos said he was proud and glad to be entrusting his post in the hands of a successful colleague. “The election of Şadan Kaptanoğlu as the next president of BIMCO is the best proof showing that we have reached our purposes in the best way. As a Greek gentleman, I now hand over the presidency of the largest maritime organization in the world to a Turkish lady. The Eastern Mediterranean has once again become pivotal for world shipping. The Sea brings peoples, cultures, genders and nations together.” Turkish Ambassador to Athens Burak Özügergin said the occasion was significant in three respects: that a Turkish citizen was elected to lead an international organization, that this person is a woman and that it shows the level reached by Turkish business world.
Next BIMCO assembly in 2021 will be held in Turkey.
Kaptanoğlu past posts
at BIMCO
Kaptanoğlu was elected to the Board of Directors and the Executive Board in 2011 at BIMCO. In 2013, she was elected Vice President of the board of directors. She is currently Vice President of Turkish Chamber of Shipping and she also sits on the board of trustees of Piri Reis University. In 2016, she was elected as Vice President of the marine environment protection group Deniz Clean Association (TURMEPA). She’s also Vice President at INTERMEPA and the Turkish Ambassador to Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA).
About BIMCO
BIMCO is the world’s largest international shipping association, with around 1,900 members in more than 120 countries, representing 58% of the world’s tonnage. Our global membership includes shipowners, operators, managers, brokers and agents. BIMCO is a non-profit organisation.
To date, BIMCO has enacted over 300 conventions that amount to what is called the constitution of the world shipping industry. Through these conventions, BIMCO strives to improve standards in the sector. It also helps arbitration and smooth-resolution of conflicts among commercial parties.
Coordinating information flow among its members, it maintains constant up-to-date synchronized knowledge of global parts. İMEAK became a BIMCO member in 1986.
The organization is also represented at IMO, EU and UN.
