Turkish maritime services provider AVS Global has expanded its operations to the port of Taşucu, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, introducing a dedicated ship catering service for vessels calling at the terminal. The move adds another supply point to the company’s growing network of crew provisioning and hospitality services along the Turkish coastline.
Taşucu, located in Mersin province, has long served as a gateway for regional cargo and passenger traffic to Northern Cyprus, and increasingly handles a mix of commercial vessels, tankers and general cargo ships. By setting up catering operations there, AVS Global is positioning itself to serve ship owners and crews who previously had to rely on provisioning arranged from larger hubs such as Mersin or Izmir.
The new service is expected to cover the full range of onboard food supply needs, from fresh produce and frozen goods to packaged provisions, tailored to the dietary and logistical requirements of international crews. Ship catering has become an increasingly competitive niche within Turkey’s maritime supply chain, as owners look for reliable, fast-turnaround provisioning that minimises port time and keeps crews well supplied on longer voyages.
AVS Global’s entry into Taşucu reflects a broader trend among Turkish maritime service companies to decentralise operations away from the country’s largest ports and into smaller, strategically located terminals. For vessels transiting the eastern Mediterranean or making short-sea crossings to Cyprus, a local catering option at Taşucu could reduce dependence on advance ordering from Mersin, cutting costs and delivery times.
While details on contract volumes or specific client agreements have not been disclosed, the company’s move signals confidence in Taşucu’s continued relevance as a working port amid Turkey’s efforts to diversify maritime trade routes in the region.
Why it matters: Ship catering and provisioning are often overlooked links in the maritime supply chain, yet they directly affect vessel turnaround times and crew welfare — factors increasingly scrutinised by international charterers. AVS Global’s expansion into a secondary port like Taşucu suggests Turkish suppliers are betting on decentralised service networks to capture business from vessels that avoid larger, more congested hubs. For foreign owners and operators trading in the eastern Mediterranean, this could mean more competitive, localised provisioning options going forward.
Source: 7Deniz, 2021-07-14T06:00:49 — https://www.7deniz.net/video/avs-globaldan-tasucunda-catering-hizmeti