MEKE'S FOUNDER MEHMET KEMERLİ

Mehmet Kemerli was a good listener, reseacher, writer, broad-visioned person. He proved to society that there are things to do for better world and also what it means to be bigger than life with his optimistic, energetic, determined personality.

He always told to his grandchildren not to avoid taking initiative in order to leave better world for them. He always told that development is the most important step for progress. Manfacturing was something indispensable for him. With the principle of constantly learning, being constantly informed, developing himself and improving everything he can access without giving up trying, the vision of its employees, the perspectives of suppliers to work have reached different points and this development cycle continues. He always said “If someone can produce something at world we can do better here” and worked with this target.

He was a pioneer in many fields in Turkey. He tackled for fisher boats to use Turkish made water-cooled engines and also he was master mind in founding this engine’s factory. He was founder of waste collection from vessels business (MARPOL) in Turkey. He was the founder of oil spill response business (OPRC) as well as he manufactured the very first oil boom and oil skimmer in Turkey. He proved that private sector can tackle with marine litter businss if public sector is not interested. He globalised his company in order to share his experiences with world firstly to Turkic countries then to the rest of the world.

While he was working at Shell he noticed that Marpol service was not active in Turkey. He decided to build this business in country as he was aware of the biggest heritage to children would be clean seas.

After leaving Shell he focused on occupational safety as he observed that international companies valued their employees more than Turkish companies.

He thought that oil spill response equipments importation is Turkey’s resource loss. He started to manufacture these equipments after necessary R&D and investments.

He proved that oil spill response process including readiness and engineering details can be performed succesfully in Turkey. He built and proudly operated special vessels for marine litter collection.

He was deeply impressed with coot (meke) birds which were living in rocky coast behind his home while he was at his boyhood town Gelibolu as they were the first animals that suffered by oil spill. When he established oil spill response company the name merged with the company and Meke Marine was born.

He worked hard about MARPOL and oil spill response fields. He lobbied about this subjects at ministries. He joined international conferences and contributed to boost Turkey’s image on these issues. He was the founder and master mind of modalities of MARPOL business in Turkey.

He endeavoured about current Turkey’s Law no 5312 Principles of Emergency Response against Oil and Other Harmful Substances Pollution of Marine Habitat. He worked hardly for creating public sensitivity about this law on bureaucrats, soldiers, public and private sector.

He aimed to give sea scouting and sea love to children by Sea Protectors Association. He proved that competing companies could unite for marine environment. He was one of the founders of OSRAM (Oil Spill Responce Alliance for Mediterranean). He also spent time and worked hard for associations with similar aims like Turmepa and Tüdav.

Mehmet Kemerli is always with us as guide in our works and with love. The memory of Mehmet Kemerli is summarized for us with his own words “Let’s leave clean seas to our children” which is also our motto.