Biography of the Port

The earliest traces of human settlement in Tekirdağ, located in the Marmara Region, have been found at Yatak and Kuştepe near Karansıllı village and Balıtepe near Malkara. Tekirdağ, following a historical path similar to other provinces in Thrace, was first inhabited by the Thracians. Conquered by Ottoman Sultan Murad I in 1537 and incorporated into the Ottoman Empire, Tekirdağ experienced Russian occupation during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, Bulgarian occupation during the Balkan Wars, and Greek occupation after World War I. It was permanently integrated into Turkish territory on November 13, 1922, following the Turkish War of Independence.

Before the Republican era, Tekirdağ Port was the most important commercial port in Thrace and Marmara. However, it lost its significance after the completion of the Rumelian Railway in 1890, which connected Edirne to Istanbul and Dedeağaç. During the Republican era, with nationwide investments and development projects, the region and port regained importance due to their geographical location, hinterland, and convenient road connections.

Tekirdağ Port operated as a branch under the Istanbul Port Authority from 1973 to October 1, 1984. It was then transformed into a Deputy Directorate under the Istanbul Port Authority by a decision of the Maritime Organization's Board of Directors.

Formerly known as TDİ Tekirdağ Port, it was privatized in 1997 for a 30-year period through the "transfer of operating rights" method. The operating rights were granted to the Akkök Group, but the contract was terminated by the Privatization High Council on March 2, 2012, and the port was taken back by TDİ.

Following the cessation of port operations, Ceynak won the tender and started providing operational services for Tekirdağ Port in 2013. In 2018, Ceynak won the privatization tender with a bid of 347.1 million liras, adding its second port operation after Samsunport. Since December 2018, Tekirdağ Port has been operating under the name Ceyport Tekirdağ International Port Management Inc.