Basic Motives for Escapes from Turkish Merchant Fleet to Foreign Flags

Abstract

Özellikle son on yılda sahibi Türk olan gemilerin yabancı bayrak altında çalıstırılmaları giderek artmıstır. 1999 yılında Türk Uluslararası Gemi Sicili'nin olusturulması bu kaçısı durduramamıstır. 2007 yılı baslarında Türk Deniz Ticaret Filosu'nun durumuna bakıldığında gemilerin büyük bir kısmının yabancı bayrak altında çalıstırıldıkları veya Türk uluslararası gemi siciline kayıtlı oldukları görülmektedir. Türk ulusal siciline kayıtlı gemilerin büyük çoğunluğu kabotaj hattında çalısmaktadır. Arastırmanın amacı Türk armatörlerinin yabancı bayrağa kaçıs nedenlerini sorgulamaktır. Bu amaçla yabancı bayrak altında gemi çalıstıran belli baslı armatörlere yönelik anket çalısması gerçeklestirilmistir. Çalısma sonunda Türk armatörlerinin yabancı bayrak altında gemi çalıstırmalarının birinci nedeninin yabancı bayrağın sağladığı kolaylıklar, ikinci nedeninin ise yabancı bayrağın sağladığı finansal avantajlar olduğu görülmüstür. Literatür taraması sonucunda elde edilen bulgular da diğer ülke armatörlerinin yabancı bayrak tercih nedenleriyle, Türk armatörlerinin yabancı bayrak tercih nedenleri arasında paralelik olduğunu göstermektedir. It is observed that most of the ships owned by Turkish shipping companies have escaped from Turkish merchant fleet to foreign flags. Such escapes seem to have increased even more particularly in the recent decade. In order to prevent the escapes, the Turkish International Ship Registry (TISR) was established in 1999, but even so the wants to escape kept going on. An overall picture of Turkish merchant fleet taken in 2007 reveals that most of the fleet have been flying foreign flags or registered with the TISR, and also that most of those in Turkish National Registry have been operated on the cabotage lines. The purpose of this research is to examine the actual reasons that force the Turkish shipowners to prefer foreign flags. To reach this aim, a questionnaire is conducted through the leading Turkish shipowners. The results of the questionnaire reveal that the very first and predominant motive attracting the shipowners is the easiness and the second one is certain financial facilities provided by foreign flags. The results of the relevant literature review also reveal that the basic factors that cause the owners in many other countries to prefer foreign flags are similar to those attracting the Turkish shipowners to purpose of this research is to examine the actual reasons that force the Turkish shipowners to prefer foreign flags. To reach this aim, a questionnaire is conducted through the leading Turkish shipowners. The results of the questionnaire reveal that the very first and predominant motive attracting the shipowners is the easiness and the second one is certain financial facilities provided by foreign flags. The results of the relevant literature review also reveal that the basic factors that cause the owners in many other countries to prefer foreign flags are similar to those attracting the Turkish shipowners to purpose of this research is to examine the actual reasons that force the Turkish shipowners to prefer foreign flags. To reach this aim, a questionnaire is conducted through the leading Turkish shipowners. The results of the questionnaire reveal that the very first and predominant motive attracting the shipowners is the easiness and the second one is certain financial facilities provided by foreign flags. The results of the relevant literature review also reveal that the basic factors that cause the owners in many other countries to prefer foreign flags are similar to those attracting the Turkish shipowners to foreign flags. foreign flags.