Mardas

What Mardas does

Mardaş Marmara Deniz İşletmeciliği A.Ş. is a private Turkish port management corporation founded in 1991 and headquartered in Beylikdüzü, Istanbul. The company operates one of Turkey's first private ports, providing container terminal services, general and bulk freight handling, bonded and duty-free storage, container freight station (CFS) services, and ship agency services. Originally established to handle iron and steel products for its parent Aslan family group companies, Mardaş transitioned into a container port in 2002 and today ranks among Turkey's top 10 container ports by throughput. The terminal spans 215,977 m² with 1,115 meters of berthing length and a 16-meter maximum draft, supported by 18 container stackers, 9 RTGs, 9 mobile harbor cranes, 45 terminal tractors, and 140-ton field cranes capable of handling up to 280-ton heavy tonnage cargo. Operations run 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, with a 2,000,000 TEU annual handling capacity.

The company's underlying technology is operational rather than transformative: a proprietary multi-language online portal (GullsEye Web) supports container inquiry, VGM/DBA verification, and customer self-service transactions in Turkish, English, French, and Latvian, secured by SMS-based two-factor authentication. No public APIs, SDKs, or AI capabilities are disclosed. The technology stack is supplemented by certifications that include Green Port/Eco Port, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, TSE greenhouse gas verification, and IQNORM water footprint verification.

Mardaş earns revenue through transaction-based fees across four streams: container terminal services, general freight handling, bonded and duty-free storage (130,000 m² of open area plus 5,362 m² of closed warehouses), and third-party ship agency services. Public tariff schedules are published for 2024. The customer base comprises global shipping lines — anchored by a strategic partnership with CMA CGM for the Turkey North Africa Express (TURAF) service signed in July 2023 — third-party shipping operators, and the Aslan family's industrial group (notably İçdaş Çelik, Turkey's largest steel manufacturer). The company is vertically integrated within the broader Aslan family maritime ecosystem, which also encompasses shipowning, brokering, shipyard, and agency activities.

Name

Mardas

Legal name

Mardaş Marmara Deniz İşletmeciliği A.Ş.

Website

https://mardas.com.tr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mardaş Marmara Deniz İşletmeciliği A.Ş. is a privately owned Istanbul-based port operator, founded in 1991 by the Aslan family, that runs one of Turkey's top 10 container terminals with 2 million TEU capacity, serving global shipping lines, third-party freight operators, and group steel manufacturer İçdaş Çelik.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Management / Marine Terminal Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Gateway Container Terminals (Import/Export) (TLAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Machinery & Industrial Equipment Terminals (TLAHADAF), Port Call Operations & Berth/Service Scheduling Liaison (Terminal, Pilots, Tugs) (TLAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Container terminal operations
• Port management services
• General cargo handling
• Container freight station
• Maritime logistics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Container Terminal Services: Revenue from container handling, loading/unloading, shifting, storage, and transportation services at the container terminal. Includes refrigerated container and dangerous container handling services.
2. General Freight Services: Revenue from handling general cargo, bulk cargo, and project cargo including heavy tonnage operations up to 280 tons with 140-ton capacity field cranes.
3. Storage and Warehouse Services: Revenue from bonded and duty-free open storage areas (130,000 m² total), closed warehouses (5,362 m²), and CFS (Container Freight Station) services.
4. Agency Services: Port agency services provided to third-party shipping companies, leveraging 33+ years of experience in maritime agency operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mardaş operates a private container terminal and general cargo port in Ambarlı, Istanbul, providing vessel berthing, container handling and storage, container freight station (CFS) services, and shipping agency services to international shipping lines and cargo owners. The terminal spans 215,977 m² with an annual handling capacity of 2,000,000 TEU and is supported by a digital customer portal, GullsEye Web, for container, vessel, and EDI-based tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container Terminal Services Vessel berthing, container loading/unloading, and yard handling at the Ambarlı terminal for international shipping lines and container operators; 2,000,000 TEU annual capacity.
• General Cargo Services Handling of conventional and general cargo through the terminal for cargo owners and forwarders using the Marmara port.
• Container Storage Short- and longer-term container yard storage at the terminal, supporting import, export, and transshipment flows across 215,977 m².
• Container Freight Station (CFS) Services De-stuffing, stuffing, and consolidation of containerized cargo at the on-dock CFS for importers, exporters, and forwarders.
• Shipping Agency Services Port agency representation for vessel owners and operators calling at Ambarlı, handling documentation, coordination, and port call logistics.
• GullsEye Web Web-based tracking and operations portal for customers to monitor container status, vessel calls, and EDI-based data exchange with Mardaş.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CMA CGMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2023CMA CGM and Mardaş signed a new partnership for the Turkey North Africa Express Service (TURAF). CMA CGM's TURAF service provides the shortest transit time from Northern Turkey to Libya, with Mardaş serving as the Istanbul Ambarlı port call. The service features specialized container capacity and high reefer capabilities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• APM Terminals: Operates container terminals in Turkey (Mersin) and globally. Directly comparable as a container terminal operator competing for the same mainline and feeder shipping-line customers across Turkish ports.
• Marport (Marina Port Istanbul): Istanbul-based container terminal operator on the same Sea of Marmara coast as Mardaş. Directly competes for Ambarlı-area container volumes and shipping-line contracts.
• DP World Yarımca: DP World operates a major Turkish container terminal at Yarımca (Kocaeli). Directly comparable in scale and customer profile, competing for the same Mediterranean/Black Sea container volumes.
• LimakPort (Limak Ambarlı): Operates a container terminal in the Ambarlı port zone, the same Istanbul sub-market as Mardaş. Closest direct competitor given geographic and customer overlap.
• Evyap Port: Container and general cargo terminal operator in Kocaeli, Turkey. Comparable as a mid-size multi-purpose Turkish terminal serving the Marmara hinterland.
• Asyaport (Tekirdağ): Container terminal at Tekirdağ on the Sea of Marmara. Directly comparable in offering and geography, serving the same Turkish container import/export market.

Regional players

• Mersin International Port: Major Turkish container terminal on the Mediterranean coast. Comparable in service offering and customer type but serves a different geographic catchment, competing for mainline calls nationally.

Broad incumbents

• PSA International: Global container terminal operator with broad port portfolio. Comparable as an industry incumbent in marine cargo handling, though not exclusively focused on Turkey.
• Hutchison Ports: World-leading port operator with multi-region container terminals. Comparable as a large incumbent peer competing for the same global shipping-line business.

Others

• IC Holding / İçdaş Çelik (parent ecosystem): Sibling entity under the Aslan family — Turkey's largest steel manufacturer/exporter. Not a direct competitor, but a key captive customer and ecosystem participant relevant to Mardaş's steel-cargo base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mardasliman
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mardas-liman-isletmeleri

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mardas