The UAB Mavi Vatan suction-type dredger, built for Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure under a contract awarded to Yutek Gemi, has been launched.
Sea-news.az reports that Türkiye has reached another milestone in its drive to develop domestic shipbuilding and maritime production capabilities. Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that UAB Mavi Vatan, the first suction-type dredger built at Turkish shipyards entirely to a domestic design, has been successfully launched.
The minister provided details on the construction process of the new-generation seabed dredging vessel.
“On April 10, 2025, we welded the first block of our new-type suction dredger UAB Mavi Vatan, and we have now launched it. For the first time, we have built a suction-type dredger at Turkish shipyards based on our domestic design,” Uraloğlu said.
The vessel’s technical specifications have also been disclosed. UAB Mavi Vatan will provide significant operational capabilities for work in ports and critical waterways.
According to Uraloğlu, the vessel is 85 metres long, has a dredging depth of 20 metres and a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres.
“We will be able to carry out dredging and cleaning operations, particularly in our bays, using our ministry’s own national vessel,” the minister said.
Equipped with a fully automated system, the vessel incorporates modern technologies designed to improve operational efficiency. It is capable of carrying out dredging operations while underway.
Officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure stated that the vessel is expected to be officially commissioned after completing several months of sea trials and testing.
The vessel was built for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure at Yalova Arı Tersanesi, a subsidiary of Gündem Shipping & Shipyard, with Yütek Tersanesi acting as the contractor.
The vessel was designed by Artı Mühendislik and classed by Türk Loydu.
The vessel’s dredging system bears the signature of Dutch-based MOTAS, a company specializing in excavation, dredging and dredging-system design.
The vessel is 79.85 metres long, 15 metres wide and has a dredging depth of up to 20 metres.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure will use the 2,000-cubic-metre-capacity vessel for the maintenance of ports and waterways.
The vessel will be capable of collecting, storing and transporting materials dredged or excavated from the seabed, including sand, gravel, silt, stone and soil.
In 2025, Yütek also built a dredging vessel named Döker-1 for use by the ministry.
