Surrounded by seas on three sides, Türkiye is advancing toward becoming an international hub for maritime and logistics, thanks to its geostrategic location connecting Asia and Europe, proximity to emerging markets, expanding foreign trade volume, and developing transportation infrastructure. In this context, maritime transportation, port management, and logistics sectors hold strategic importance in the country’s economic development goals. As in other regions of Türkiye, the İskenderun Bay has also become one of the most important logistics centers in the Eastern Mediterranean, with its port capacity, industrial zones, and energy infrastructure.
Through the ports in the region, multimodal transportation activities are carried out via road, rail, sea, and pipelines, enabling integrated logistics solutions for both domestic and international trade. The efficient operation of this multimodal network is not only dependent on robust infrastructure but also on a well-trained and technically equipped workforce.
In this regard, İskenderun Technical University Maritime Technologies Vocational School, established in 1996, continues its educational activities to train the qualified workforce needed by our country and region. At our school, associate degree programs in Maritime and Port Management, Logistics, Underwater Technology, and Underwater Welding Technology offer modern, practical, and sector-integrated education. In addition to theoretical knowledge, our students gain sector-relevant qualifications through hands-on training.
Our vocational school also successfully implements the “Workplace-Based Vocational Training” model. Within this system, successful and willing students gain professional experience by working directly in related sectors during the final semester of their studies, significantly increasing their post-graduation employment opportunities.
Our mission is to provide our students with comprehensive, innovative, and practice-oriented education in maritime, logistics, and underwater technologies, equipping them to become qualified professionals for the maritime and transportation sectors across Türkiye, particularly in the İskenderun Bay region. With our modern infrastructure, strong academic staff, and practical training approach carried out in cooperation with the industry, we are dedicated to preparing our students as the professionals of the future.
Acting Director of the Vocational School
Assistant Professör Özkan AKAR
ASSOCIATE DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS
TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES DEPARTMENT
MARINE AND PORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
It is a division established in order to train qualified manpower to work as a staff or manager in the field or office in the customs procedures of the cargoes entering and leaving the ports, transportation, protection, routing, management in sea and port enterprises.
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION DEPARTMENT
LOGISTICS PROGRAM
Companies operating in international and national markets have high communication skills with business culture and necessary technical knowledge by working with managers in different fields of production, sales, purchasing, storage, packaging, customs clearance, material management, packaging, inventory control, order management, customer relations and transportation. It is a program opened for training as an expert.
MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES DEPARTMENT
UNDERWATER TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
This program is available in 5 Higher Education Institutions in our country. The strongest infrastructure among the Vocational Schools is in ISTE Maritime Vocational School. Scuba Diving Training is given only in the tower in our Vocational School in Turkey. Swimming and basic diving trainings are given in the Governor Zeki Şanal Indoor Swimming Pool, which is adjacent to my school, in cooperation with the Hatay Youth Services and Sports Provincial Directorate. Maritime and Advanced Diving Trainings are carried out in the last semester by staying at sea for 1 week (24/7 based) with the 27.5 m long RV ISTE I Research Ship owned by our university. Pressure Room Operator Trainings are also given in the Pressure Room, which is located in only two schools. Some of the diving trainings are carried out by the ISTE II Research and Application Boat owned by our university.
DEPARTMENT OF METALWORKING TECHNOLOGIES
Underwater Welding Technology Program
The Underwater Welding Technology Program is a specialized associate degree program aimed at training technical experts capable of performing welding, cutting, and assembly operations underwater. It is one of the few educational areas that combine diving competencies with technical welding skills.
The program offers both theoretical and practical training in areas such as underwater welding techniques (electric arc, wet welding, cutting methods), industrial metalworking, safety in pressurized environments, diving physiology, and maintenance and inspection of underwater equipment. Training is supported by dedicated diving facilities and modern welding workshops.
Graduates are prepared to work in a wide range of fields, including shipyards, port construction and maintenance projects, subsea energy and communication cable installations, pipeline construction, offshore platforms, and underwater construction and welding operations carried out by private companies. They may also be employed in shipbuilding, underwater sections of nuclear and hydroelectric power plants, and public sector units involved in fisheries and coastal protection.
Due to its limited availability in Türkiye and the specialized expertise it requires, this program offers high employment opportunities to graduates and significantly contributes to meeting the technical workforce needs of the sector.
