Anadolu Shipyard: From Commercial Roots to Turkey's Premier Naval Vessel Builder
Established in the 1950s, Anadolu Shipyard pivoted from commercial to naval shipbuilding, constructing Turkey's most advanced amphibious ships (TCG Bayraktar) and securing major domestic and international military contracts.
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ACİL HOST / ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE — NOVEMBER 16, 2025
Anadolu Shipyard, one of Turkey’s leading shipyards for naval vessels, is intensifying its commitment to developing advanced engineering solutions and expanding its capacity, driven by a vision to meet the growing demand for state-of-the-art fleets for Turkey and its allies.
With a rich heritage beginning in the 1950s as a family-owned commercial shipyard, Anadolu Shipyard strategically evolved to focus on naval platforms. It has emerged as the premier builder of the Turkish Navy's largest, most advanced, and fastest amphibious command ships to date, namely the TCG Bayraktar and TCG Sancaktar.
Pivotal Shift to Military Shipbuilding
Initially founded as 'Deniz İnşaat Kolektif Şirketi' in Haliç, the shipyard successfully constructed 98 vessels between 1950 and 1982. After relocating to Tuzla and being acquired by Mr. Muharrem Faruk Ürkmez in 2004, the shipyard underwent modernization and capacity expansion, delivering 39 commercial vessels between 2005 and 2009.
A pivotal shift occurred between 2008 and 2012 when the shipyard transitioned its focus to military ship production. Following evaluations by the Undersecretary of National Defense (SSB), Anadolu Shipyard successfully signed and delivered 8 Landing Craft Tanks (LCT) to the Turkish Naval Forces on schedule within 36 months, marking a significant milestone. This was followed by the delivery of 2 LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks) and 8 LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel) between 2013 and 2018.
International Contracts and Current Projects
Anadolu Shipyard has successfully translated its domestic expertise into international success, securing significant export contracts:
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Qatar Armed Forces (2019): Contracted to build 2 OPV Class CTS (Cadet Training Ships), successfully delivering the first vessel, “Al Doha”, in August 2021, and the second, “Al Shamal”, in February 2022.
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Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (2020): Delivered a further 1 LCT, 2 LCM40, and 1 LCVP by July 2022 to fulfill amphibious mission requirements and support humanitarian aid endeavors. The shipyard also secured a recent In-Service Support (ISS) contract for Qatar’s CTS vessels.
In 2023, the shipyard, as part of the TAIS-STM partnership, was awarded responsibility for building three frigates under the MILGEM Project, including the 6th (TCG İZMİR), 9th, and 12th of the 'I' Class National Frigates. Construction of the 6th and 9th ships is currently underway. Furthermore, a new agreement for 8 more new type LCTs for the Turkish Navy is in progress, with deliveries planned until 2028.
Through the TAIS cooperation, new contract negotiations for warship production with other countries, including Indonesia, are also currently in progress, underscoring Anadolu Shipyard's vision to prioritize international contracts and contribute to the growth of Turkey's Defense Industry exports.
