Round-the-clock material handling Deep Sea Port Yeşilyurt Accelerates Vessel Handling on the Black Sea

23.09.2026 Samsun, Turkey Author: Sebastian Mißler, Product Marketing Manager Port

Yeşilyurt Deep-Sea Port Speeds Up Ship Handling on the Black Sea

Yeşilyurt Demir Çelik's deep-sea port near Samsun is one of the most important cargo handling hubs on Turkey's Black Sea coast. Since 2005, the steel producer has operated its own port as a key logistics hub for the transport of bulk materials, scrap steel and general cargo between Türkiye, the Caucasus and Central Asia. As production capacities increased, vessels grew larger and demand continued to rise, Yeşilyurt continuously expanded and modernized its port logistics. Today, 13 SENNEBOGEN material handlers operate at the port, ensuring fast vessel turnaround, flexible material handling throughout the terminal and a reliable supply of raw materials to the adjacent steel plant.

Yeşilyurt Deep-Sea Port at a Glance:

Thirteen SENNEBOGEN material handlers are in operation at the Turkish deep-water port of Yeşilyurt near Samsun. The machines handle the transshipment of steel scrap as well as general cargo and bulk goods. The fleet includes SENNEBOGEN 835, 870 E, 880 EQ, and the new 895 E with a 500 kW electric drive and an outreach of up to 40 m.

Challenges at the Deep-Sea Port

Located around 15 km east of Samsun, Yeşilyurt Port covers an area of 210,000 m² and features three piers with water depths of up to 20 metres. This infrastructure enables the efficient handling of large container vessels and bulk carriers.

Since operations began in 2005, the demands placed on the terminal have steadily increased. Rising demand for scrap steel and bulk materials, growing vessel sizes and expanding steel production required Yeşilyurt to continuously enhance its cargo handling capabilities. As a result, the company needed a fleet of material handlers offering greater performance, maximum flexibility and outstanding availability.

Which Solution Does Yeşilyurt Use for Port Material Handling?

Yeşilyurt gradually expanded its fleet over the years. "We started with the SENNEBOGEN 835, later adding 870 material handlers and 880 EQ Balancers," explains Port Manager Salih Cengiz.

Cengiz has managed the site since the port opened and played a key role in the latest investment decision. The newly acquired SENNEBOGEN 895 E is designed to handle the most demanding cargo handling applications and support the port's continued growth.

Vier SENNEBOGEN 870 E Umschlagbagger im Einsatz für den Umschlag von Schüttgütern und Stahlschrott im Hafen von Yeşilyurt. — For Yeşilyurt, the four 870 E material-handling excavators are efficient all-rounders—from handling various bulk materials at the harbor pier to loading steel scrap within the port grounds.

Jobsite Video: How Is the Yeşilyurt Deep-Sea Port Speeding Up Ship Handling on the Black Sea?

Port All-Rounder for Bulk & Scrap Handling | SENNEBOGEN 870 E — The video shows the SENNEBOGEN 870 E handling bulk cargo and scrap metal at the deep-sea port of Yeşilyurt on the Black Sea. As a versatile all-rounder, it is part of a fleet of 13 SENNEBOGEN material handlers that service partner Forsen maintains on site.

For Versatile Material Handling: SENNEBOGEN 835 Material Handlers

Everything began in 2005 with two SENNEBOGEN 835 material handlers. Since then, these machines have taken on lighter duties in scrap handling on site or the unloading of smaller vessels with a reach of up to 20 meters.

For Demanding Material Handling: SENNEBOGEN 870 Material Handlers

Shortly after commissioning the compact material handlers, the first 870 machines followed. With their powerful electric motors and a reach of 27 meters, they are ideally suited for demanding handling operations across a wide range of applications. The latest 870 E material handlers are equipped with the SENNEBOGEN Green Hybrid energy recovery system, which stores boom movements via an additional hydraulic cylinder and makes this energy available again during the next lifting cycle. This can reduce operating costs by up to 35 %.

For Large Vessels with Deep Cargo Holds: SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ-Balancer

For particularly large vessels with deep cargo holds, three SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ balancers with a reach of 35 meters were added. Compared to conventional material handlers, balancers feature a counterweight at the rear of the machine that is directly coupled with the boom. By balancing the boom movements, operating costs can be significantly reduced.

SENNEBOGEN 880 EQ-Balancer im Einsatz für den Materialumschlag im Hafen von Yeşilyurt. — The Yeşilyurt 880 EQ balancer has been in service since 2007 and has logged over 100,000 operating hours since then.

For the heaviest piece goods and bulk materials:

For Heaviest Break Bulk and Bulk Cargo: SENNEBOGEN 895 E Material Handler

SENNEBOGEN 895 E beim Umschlag schwerer Stück- und Schüttgüter im Hafen zur Steigerung der Umschlagkapazität. — The newly acquired SENNEBOGEN 895 E will handle the heaviest unitized and bulk cargoes and is expected to further increase the port's annual cargo volume in the future.

“As demand for even higher handling performance increased, we ultimately opted for the SENNEBOGEN 895 E,” explains Cengiz.

The green port giant, equipped with a 500 kW electric motor and a reach of 40 meters, handles the heaviest general and bulk cargo and is expected to further increase the deep-sea port’s throughput in the future.

Durability of SENNEBOGEN Material Handlers

The durability of SENNEBOGEN material-handling machines is particularly evident at Yeşilyurt. All 13 machines purchased to date are still in service. Even the material-handling excavators delivered as far back as 2005 are still regularly used in the deep-sea port. One of the 880 EQ-Balancer models has already logged over 100,000 operating hours, underscoring the high value of its robust construction and the corrosion-resistant coatings on the upper and lower carriages as well as all hydraulic components.

SENNEBOGEN Umschlagmaschinen im Hafen von Yeşilyurt tragen zum steigenden Umschlagvolumen des Standorts bei. — The Port of Yeşilyurt has steadily increased its cargo handling volume in recent years. The 13 SENNEBOGEN material handlers play a crucial role in this.

Service and Support by Forsen

In addition to the durable design, the SENNEBOGEN service and sales partner plays a crucial role in ensuring high availability.

“Forsen knows our machines, and they know our workflow. Whenever we need something, they are there. This reliable partnership is a key reason why we rely on SENNEBOGEN machines,” emphasizes Cengiz.

Since 2005, Forsen has supported every phase of the port’s fleet development – from the first new machine and its installation through to ongoing maintenance, inspections and emergency repairs.

The deep-water port of Yeşilyurt has steadily increased its cargo handling volume in recent years. With the SENNEBOGEN 895 E, the company is expanding its capacity for heavy general cargo and bulk cargo. The existing fleet of 835, 870, and 880 EQ material handlers also provides a flexible and reliable foundation for daily operations.