Mecit Çetinkaya Denizcilik

Mecit Çetinkaya’s maritime tradition began in Inebolu, a district of our country famous for its seafaring, which was awarded the Independence Medal for its role as the main centre for transporting people and ammunition to Anatolia during the National Struggle. Mecit Çetinkaya, who was born in Kelkit (Erzurum) in 1912 and gave his name to the company he founded, started his maritime career here in 1926. Later, he started working as a broker with his father-in-law Kadir Tepe, also known as Kadir Captain (also known as Gazi Kadir Aga), who was a sailor from the family. 

In 1939, Çetinkaya moved to Istanbul where he continued his barge business. He made a breakthrough in his profession and became the leading player in the sector when he had engines fitted to barges that had previously been towed by trailers. Barges were no longer condemned to sails and trailers. After becoming a leading figure in the sector, he was elected president of the Istanbul Bargemen, Engineers and Tugboatmen’s Association, which he helped to found, and served in this position between 1955 and 1978. He was also president of the Istanbul Union of Chambers of Artisans and Craftsmen between 1961 and 1967. He took an active role in areas such as sports club presidencies, foundation trusteeships and political activities, becoming one of the leading figures of civil society during his time.

He was the last president of the Independence Medalist Bargemen’s Guild in Istanbul, which transported arms on barges in Inebolu during the War of Independence. Mecit Çetinkaya, the last president of the five-century-old Bargemen’s Guild and Society, died in 1978.

Mecit Çetinkaya, the youngest child of Mecit Çetinkaya, succeeded in carrying on the flag inherited from his father by establishing Mecit Mert Çetinkaya and Mecit Çetinkaya Denizcilik Ltd. in 1997 and Manta Denizcilik Nakliyat Ltd. in 1998.

Although the profession of bargee has disappeared with the development of technology and transport, Mecit Çetinkaya Shipping continues to operate successfully with its ships as it has done for a century.