ABOUT US

Owned by the Cerrahoglu family, Cerrahgil is a fourth generation shipping group specializing in the global operation of Panamax, Kamsarmax and Cape Size dry bulk carriers using a mixture of owned and chartered in tonnage. The family business was established in Eregli in 1887, transferred to Istanbul in 1921 and in 1954 was incorporated as the first joint stock company in Turkish maritime history. Our Agency department is one of the oldest in Turkey and handles all types of non-liner vessels transiting the Turkish straits and all Turkish ports. Diversification outside shipping includes a factory manufacturing metal components for consumer white goods and electronics .

1989s

Cerrahgil was the first company to take advantage of the newly liberalized Turkish regulations, enabling the overseas finance and insurance of Turkish flag vessels. This pioneering spirit led to Cerrahgil being responsible for both the shipping and logistics for the majority of grain import and export cargoes during the early 1990's

1990s

Esref Cerrahoglu served for 4 years as President of the Turkish Chamber of Shipping, 8 years on the board of Lloyds Register of Shipping and 8 years on the executive committee of BIMCO- the final two as Vice President.

2000s

Esref Cerrahoglu co-founded the Non-Governmental Environmental Agency TURMEPA and served as Vice President for 8 years. The Group diversified away from shipping into other industrial sectors becoming the exclusive Turkish distributor for the UK luxury toiletries brand Molton Brown and becomes joint venture partners in metal parts manufacturer Esalba. Esref Cerrahoglu was appointed Chairman of the Turkish Maritime Assembly of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey.

2010s

The Group took delivery of its first newly built ship, the 81,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier Cerba in 2010, and established a separate ship operations department under the Cerba name. Sister ship Flama was delivered in 2011

2020s

The global Covid pandemic and disruptions to trade in the Black Sea has led the group to focus on international ship chartering / operations and to diversify its activities into real estate and manufacturing in Turkiye.

MESSAGE OF CHAIRMAN

The company has come a long way since it took up its current corporate form in 1974. We have witnessed the development of our country over the last 30 40 years, becoming a regional economic centre, and as it has been throughout History, a meeting point between East and West. I am proud to say that our group has been part of that development and is well placed to take advantage of all the opportunities available today.

We went from exclusively buying ships in the second-hand market to building two have recently taken a further step forward with the purchase of two new Kamsarmax bulk carriers from in Korea. A major corporate milestone. This marks the first time in the company's history that we have built new ships rather than bought second hand.

We have very active chartering and agency departments which are able to take advantage of the huge trade boom that we are seeing in Turkey by reacting swiftly and positively to the needs of our industrial and maritime clients.

The shipping industry is currently experiencing has and continues to experience challenging times as a result of the banking crisis, global recession and over supply of tonnage regional trade disruption, fundamental changes in ship financing and maritime regulation and general uncertainty in all the major shipping sectors. Our diversification program into industrial manufacturing, consumer cosmetics and real estate, has left us well placed to face the challenges and to profit from the shipping and economic opportunities. recovery.

Great companies are built upon providing great customer service and we, at Cerrahgil, will be pleased to respond quickly and efficiently to any enquiries you may have.

Sincerely
Esref Cerrahoglu