Student:	Ünal ÖZDEMİR
Supervisor:	Assoc. Prof. Abdulaziz GÜNEROĞLU
Department:	Deniz Ulaştırma İşletme Mühendisliği
Institution:	Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences
University:	Karadeniz Technical University Turkey

Title of the Thesis:	INVESTIGATION OF EMPTY CONTAINER PROBLEM FOR TURKISH PORTS
Level:	M.Sc.
Acceptance Date:	13/12/2011
Number of Pages:	131
Registration Number:	i2416

Summary:

In today’s shipping, container transportation is the most prefered transportation way

after liquid cargo transportation. International trading volume by sea way is dramatically

increasing each day and 95 % of general cargo types in the world are transporting with

container due to being cheap, safe and capable of carrying much more cargo in a single

operation.

Several statistics show that worldwide container number was, 16 million TEU in the

year of 2001, 18,8 million TEU in 2004 and 21 million TEU in 2005. By the 2010, it is

estimated to be over 25 million TEU. Increasing number of containers have a negative

effect on many ports performance all over the world, by creating problems especially about

storage, transportation, repositioning of empty containers and narrowing of the operation

areas.

In this study, empty container management issue which is one of the most popular

topics in recent years, is discussed. Having the 80 % of the container trade volume in our

country, Gemport, Haydarpaşa, İzmir, Kumport, Mardaş, Marport and Mersin ports are

evaluated statistically. Several interviews and discussions have been made with port

authorities and governing departments. As a result, it is observed that there is no empty

Based on general statistics, Turkish container ports currently do not suffer from empty

container problem as overall container circulation close to equlibrium but the problem has

a potential to create a risk on developing international trade of Turkey.

Key Words: Empty Container, Empty Container Problem, Turkey