06 March 2024, The MOIG Director accompanied by Mr. Hakan Ciner, General Manager and Alkan Elkir, Oil Spill Response Director of MEKE Marine ; performed a visit to the Directorate of National Maritime Safety (UDEB) ; located in Tekirdag in the Northwest of Marmara Sea in Turkey,

UDEB has been established as Europe's largest Emergency Response Center and operates as a decision support system of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, executing all tasks related to maritime safety including personnel, equipment, hardware, software, and all necessary infrastructure facilities. UDEB serves as the brain and coordination center for Turkish country's intervention against pollution. It was designed to be an International training and R&D center, beyond its effective intervention system for marine accidents.

The MOIG Director met Mr. Bülent Sönmez, President and Captain Mustafa Tasan.

This visit was a good oppurtunity to undertake fruitfull discussions and exchange information on oil spill preparedness and response in the Mediterranean region as well as to explore possibilities for future cooperation. In addition, the MOIG Director afforded the oppurtunity to see all the types of simunaltors available in the centre, the control and operations rooms as well as the conference center dedicated to trainings.

The Management Committee Members would like to thank MEKE Marine for facilitating this visit and UDEB representatives for their warm welcome and hospitality as well as for agreeing to host participants in their Centre during the forthcoming Regional Workshop to be held from 12 to 14 November 2024 in Istanbul-Turkey.