Basement Yalıkavak Marina‘While the marina management made a statement after the fire that burned 7 motor yachts, Yacht Tourism Association President Begum Dogulu’'s recent warnings have come to the fore again.

Located in the Bodrum district of Mugla Yalikavak Marina’A fire that broke out at night caused serious losses in the yachting sector. The fire started on a moored motor yacht and grew in a short time as the flames spread to other boats with the effect of the wind. In the incident, 7 motor yachts burned and one motor yacht was damaged. The fire was brought under control with intensive intervention from land and sea.

Marina management announced that investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing and the process is being followed in coordination with the relevant units. It was also emphasized that the fire was intervened quickly and a larger spread was prevented.

”Marinas have clear boundaries”

Yacht Tourism Association President Begüm Dogulu, In an interview with CNBC-e shortly before this incident, Doğulu drew attention to the functions of marinas defined by legislation. Doğulu emphasized that the main functions of marinas are mooring, electricity, water, fuel, limited maintenance and repair and social services.

“But now marinas have started to work like a shipyard. There is a refit center at every door and there is no control, no supervision.”

“Technical services should be carried out in shipyards”

Eastern, heavy maintenance, refit and technical repairs it is mandatory to be built in licensed shipyards he said.

“There is no waste system in marinas, most of them don't have one. Shipyards are industrial enterprises, not marinas. The state needs to intervene here urgently. The fact that these services are carried out by unauthorized persons in marinas creates serious risks.”

“Unauthorized area not covered by insurance”

President Doğulu stated that possible accidents also pose a risk in terms of insurance coverage:

“If a boat burns down as a result of maintenance and repairs carried out in unauthorized areas in marinas, P&I insurances will not even be able to intervene. Boats coming to Turkey will also be affected.”

After the fire, cleaning works have started in the area for sea pollution, while technical investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing. The development at Yalıkavak Marina once again showed how critical Begüm Doğulu's warnings were.