The project will extend the berth from 656 metres to 850 metres, enabling three vessels to be handled at once instead of two. Additionally, the yard will be expanded to 394,058 square metres. 

Turkish shipping and logistics group Arkas Holding is seeking up to $110 million from three development banks to fund a $157 million expansion of its Autoport vehicle and general cargo terminal on the Gulf of Izmit in Turkey. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is considering providing a $50 million loan. Loans of up to $30m each are being considered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Final approval has not yet been granted by any of them. The AIIB reviewed the project concept on 3 November 2026

 A potential exposure of $2 million for interest rate swaps

EBRD disclosed its proposal on 28 October, with approval scheduled for 2 December. IFC, meanwhile, disclosed its investment proposal on 1 September. The IFC's proposal also includes a potential exposure of $2 million for interest rate swaps, which is separate from the $110 million in proposed loans.

The project 

The project will extend the berth from 656 metres to 850 metres, enabling three vessels to be handled simultaneously rather than two. The yard will be expanded to 394,058 square metres, increasing vehicle parking capacity from 13,000 to 21,000 spaces, including satellite areas. AIIB expects the annual vehicle handling capacity to increase from 650,000 to approximately 1.1 million car equivalent units (CEU), whereas the IFC forecasts 1.15 million CEU. The general cargo capacity is set to increase from 2 million tonnes to 2.5 million tonnes.

Dredging and land reclamation

The project includes dredging and land reclamation, as well as the construction of a new roll-off ramp and the seismic reinforcement of the existing pier, warehouses and supporting infrastructure. Building work began in July 2026. Autoport handles vehicle imports and exports, as well as break-bulk cargo including steel, paper, and packaged forest products. Yard occupancy is currently at around 72%, while berth occupancy stands at approximately 75%. The investment aims to ease capacity constraints on cargo flows in Turkey’s East Marmara automotive export region. The operator’s own funds and financing from other institutions will cover the remaining investment costs.

 Turkey’s first purpose-built automobile-handling port

Autoport Liman İşletmeleri A.Ş. has operated since 2008 at Yeniköy in Kocaeli’s Başiskele district. It is Turkey’s first purpose-built automobile-handling port. Arkas Holding owns 80% of the company, while Ayhan Zeytinoglu and Adnan Zeytinoglu hold 10% each.

Arkas Line Maintains Russia Connection via St. Petersburg

On the other hand Arkas Line has revised the route of its REX Service, shifting its Russian port call from Novorossiysk Port on the Black Sea to St. Petersburg Port on the Baltic Sea. Under the new arrangement, which came into effect on 10 October 2026, the sea transport connection between Türkiye, Egypt, and Russia continues through the new routing, while the service rotation is planned to be adjusted in line with seasonal cargo flows.

Previously calling at Novorossiysk Port in Russia, the REX service was restructured as of 10 October 2026 to include St. Petersburg Port. For the inaugural voyage, a rotation comprising Marmara, Alexandria, Aliağa and St. Petersburg was established. Through this new service configuration, Arkas Line has launched a revised connection between the Eastern Mediterranean and Russia via the Baltic Sea

About: Arkas Holding

Arkas Holding is a Turkish conglomerate controlled by Lucien Arkas and his family, with interests in container shipping, port operations, shipping agency services and integrated logistics.

Press Release

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