Source
Turkish Chamber of Shipping Magazine
Published
2025-11-27
Trusted Partner at Sea: A Twenty One Year Journey
Interview with Ufuk Sansal — Chairman of the Board Netship Agency & Chartering Co.
Net Gemi Denizcilik — NetShip Agency & Chartering Co., one of the key players in the Turkish maritime sector for 21 years, stands out today for its leadership in the field, its strong corporate structure, and its approach to social responsibility. The company’s founder, Ufuk Şansal, spoke about the sector’s transformation, his understanding of leadership, and the importance of leaving a mark not only at sea but also on shore.
QUESTION — 1
First, let’s start by getting to know you. How did your maritime journey begin?
I started working in shipping while I was still at university, and I was fortunate to be mentored by people who shaped my professional growth.
I graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Business Administration. While I was at university, I began working at Mardeniz. My employers at the time, the valued members of the Aslan family, took a close interest in my professional development. I cannot thank them enough for introducing me to the maritime industry and for their mentorship. Because of this start, shipping became not just a profession for me, but a way of life. After working for many years as an agency manager at Mardeniz Ambarlı Port, the knowledge I accumulated and the relationships I built sparked the desire to bring my own vision to life. When I founded NetShip in 2004, my goal was to bring a long-term, trust-based, and institutionally robust structure with strong corporate values to the Turkish maritime sector. Looking back today, seeing that we have reached this goal step by step is a great source of happiness for me.
QUESTION — 2
What kind of company profile does NetShip have at the point it has reached today?
Our strength comes from an experienced team that trusts each other, this synergy helps us make fast, accurate decisions, especially in crisis moments.
With its 21-year history, NetShip is known in the Turkish maritime sector as a company with solid corporate foundations and strong operational capability. For us, every customer is not a project, but a travel companion. With the majority of the companies we work with, we have relationships that go back many years. The biggest share in our success belongs to our experienced team that trusts one another. Our team is composed of people who complement each other not only professionally, but also on a human level. This synergy enables us to make fast and accurate decisions in times of crisis. In addition, an awareness of institutionalization played a major role in NetShip’s growth. From day one, transparent management, strong reporting systems, ethical working principles, and continuous improvement have been indispensable for us. Today, we take pride in being a brand recognized not only in Turkey but also regionally.
QUESTION — 3
What lies ahead for NetShip in the coming period?
Keep investing in technology, the environment, and people.
Global maritime trade is going through a rapid transformation. Issues such as international trade regulations, digitalization, sustainability, and environmental regulations are now at the center of every company’s strategy. As NetShip, we want to play an active role in this change. We will continue investing in technology, the environment, and people. In the coming period, we will focus on new market segments. Turkey’s strategic location, our expertise in passage operations through the Turkish Straits, and our years of operational experience provide a significant advantage toward this goal. We will also deliver a higher service standard to our customers through digital operations management, real-time data sharing, and transparent reporting systems. For us, success is not only about growing; it is about growing while staying committed to the right values. Being our customers’ trusted partner in Turkey remains our most important value.
QUESTION — 4
In this sector, 24/7 service is important. What is your working principle in this regard?
Shipping never stops; time, geography, and weather don’t wait. We’ve built ‘24/7 accessibility’ into our culture.
Shipping is a field of uninterrupted operations; time, geography, or weather conditions do not set limits. As a company specialized in agency services, we have placed the principle of “24/7 accessibility” at the center of our corporate culture. At NetShip, our teams work not so much with a shift mentality, but with a “sense of responsibility.” Each of us knows that our customers’ operation is our operation. Thanks to our technology investments, we provide our customers with real-time information flow and leave no room for delays or communication gaps. In short, we do not have the concept of “working hours”; we have an understanding of “secure operations.” This approach has made us a reliable solution partner in the eyes of our customers for years.
QUESTION — 5
Maritime has long been seen as a male-dominated sector. What is your perspective on women’s presence in this field?
Women bring strong perspectives, communication, and flexibility in crisis management.
Yes, shipping has traditionally been a male-heavy sector; however, this perception is changing and it must change. Women are taking on increasingly stronger roles in maritime. I believe this transformation is highly valuable in terms of both diversity and corporate efficiency. Women’s different perspectives, intuition, communication skills, and flexibility in crisis management make a real difference within teams. As NetShip, we have adopted the principle of equal opportunity as one of our core values. Our female employees at every level actively take part across all areas of the company. For us, it is not gender that speaks, but competence. And we observe that this mindset significantly increases both employee motivation and customer satisfaction.
QUESTION — 6
What is your strategy and investment plan regarding the environment and new regulations?
We stay in close coordination with the shipowners we represent on fuel choices, emissions measurement, and waste management.
The maritime sector is one of the world’s most critical fields in terms of sustainability. The new environmental regulations that we have been expecting to be enacted for many years are not merely an obligation for those of us devoted to shipping; they are also an opportunity for transformation. As NetShip, we are determined to be part of this transformation. In our operational processes, we have taken concrete steps and will continue to do so on issues such as energy efficiency, digital document management, and reducing carbon footprint. We also stay in continuous communication with the shipowners we represent regarding topics such as the use of environmentally friendly fuels, emissions measurement, and waste management. For us, environmental investment is an investment in the future not only for our company and our customers, but for the sustainability of the sector and the planet.
QUESTION — 7
What is NetShip’s approach to social responsibility?
We support projects in education, the environment, and sports especially initiatives that connect young people with science, technology, and sports, and those that advance women’s professional development.
For us, social responsibility is an inseparable part of corporate identity. Shipping is a global sector, so we must keep our awareness of the environment and society at a high level. With this awareness, we support various projects in education, the environment, and sports. Contributing to initiatives that bring young people together with science, technology, and sports, and especially playing a role in women’s professional development, is of great importance to us. We also take part in platforms aimed at improving the living conditions of those working in the maritime sector and raising professional awareness. In short, we want to create value not only at sea, but also on shore and leave a positive mark.
QUESTION — 8
You are also an active athlete and sports executive. Could you talk about your roles as a Board Member responsible for Fenerbahçe Women’s Basketball and Women’s Football teams, and as Vice President of the Turkish Footgolf Association?
Supporting women’s teams and helping remove barriers for female athletes is part of broader social transformation. Through footgolf, we also aim to grow a new discipline in Turkiye.
Sport is a passion for me. Serving as a Board Member responsible for the Women’s Basketball and Women’s Football teams within an institution like Fenerbahçe is both a major responsibility and a great source of pride. Removing barriers in front of female athletes and providing them with equal opportunities is not only part of sport, but also part of social transformation. My role as Vice President of the Footgolf Association brings a different kind of excitement. Footgolf, which is still developing in Turkey, is a new form of experiencing sport, being in nature, and socializing. We are working to expand this discipline, attract young people to it, and represent our country on international platforms. I believe in the power of sport to create equal opportunity especially for young people and women. For that reason, I see these responsibilities not only as duties, but also as a mission.
QUESTION — 9
What are your expectations for 2026? Finally, what message would you like to share with the sector?
Deepening digitalization, and building sustainable operating models are priorities. Don’t fear change; stay open to cooperation and innovation trust at sea, reputation on shore.
Due to regional wars, the slowdown in global trade followed by quotas, and environmental regulations, we have gone through a difficult one or two years as a sector. Uncertainties in global trade certainly continue, but we believe we have the strength to turn this period into an opportunity, and we look to 2026 with hope. Reaching new customers, deepening digitalization further, and creating differentiation through sustainable operating models are among our top priorities. Our sector is one that has repeatedly managed to turn every crisis into opportunity through resilience and adaptability. My message would be: Let’s not fear change; let’s be open to cooperation and innovation. Trust at sea and reputation on shore are only possible through this balance.
NetShip Agency & Chartering Co.
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Ufuk Şansal