“Innovative Project” Award from Türk Loydu to Ayden Marine

Türk Loydu Presents “Innovative Project” Award to Ayden Marine

Standing out for its strong support of innovative initiatives, Türk Loydu has presented the “Innovative Project” Award to the “Semisubmarine” project, designed by Ayden Istanbul Naval Engineering.

An award ceremony for the Semisubmarine, which earned the “Innovative Project” award given by Türk Loydu to support creative and beneficial developments, was held on June 27, 2016 at Türk Loydu's headquarters. The event was attended by executives from both Ayden Istanbul Naval Engineering and Türk Loydu. The award was presented on behalf of Türk Loydu by Chairman of the Board Mr. Cem Melikoğlu, and was received on behalf of Ayden Istanbul by one of the company’s partners, Ms. Ayçın Özsakabaşı.

During the ceremony, Ms. Ayçın Özsakabaşı stated that Semisubmarine is a first-of-its-kind vessel in Turkey and represents a unique design in the local market. She emphasized that the boat features pressure-resistant glass panels, emergency alarms, dual emergency exits, and design measures that prevent water intrusion between compartments in case of flooding—making it not only extraordinary but also highly safe. Since entering service, the Semisubmarine has attracted great interest from tourists thanks to its unique function and operational benefits.

Offering its passengers a cruise experience both above and below the water, the Semisubmarine was constructed by Demirbatu Tourism at the Türkoğlu Shipyard in Yalova. The vessel is classified by Türk Loydu and fully built from steel, with a length of 26 meters, a beam of 8.2 meters, and a passenger capacity of 148. The vessel also holds the distinction of being the first 100% Turkish-built semi-submarine. In addition to tourism services, it contributes to environmental sustainability through its underwater cleaning capabilities.

The Semisubmarine project has also been nominated for the “Utility Model Patent” by the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE).
During the ceremony, Mr. Alper Eralp, Acting General Manager of Türk Loydu, expressed pride in the project, which he described as a full collaboration between Turkish entrepreneurs, Turkish shipyards, Turkish engineers, and the national classification society Türk Loydu. He also highlighted Ms. Ayçın Özsakabaşı’s past contributions to Türk Loydu during her tenure at the organization, noting that these ties make the Semisubmarine a particularly meaningful project for Türk Loydu. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and promoting original and innovative ship designs.

Following the award presentation, Mr. Cem Melikoğlu, Chairman of Türk Loydu Foundation, stated that the foundation will continue to support innovative projects. He emphasized that the Innovative Project Award presented to the Semisubmarine is just the beginning, and that Türk Loydu is committed to backing creative engineering efforts that contribute to the development of Turkish maritime technologies.