Durmuş Ünüvar was born in 1973 in Antalya. He graduated in 1996 from the Department of Marine Engineering Management at the Faculty of Maritime, Istanbul Technical University (ITU).

Between 1996 and 1999, he served as an oceangoing watchkeeping engineer and oceangoing second engineer on merchant vessels and at Turkish Maritime Lines Inc. (TDİ).

He later held several positions at the İzmir Regional Directorate of the Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs, including Port State Control Officer (PSC), Chair of the Ship Survey Committee, Head of Marmaris Port, Deputy Regional Director, Head of Çeşme Port, and Head of İzmir Port.

From 2015 to 2017, he worked in the private sector as a Fleet/Operations Manager.

In January 2017, he became Head of the Sectoral Analysis and Regulation Department at the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs, and Communications, in July 2017, he was appointed Director General for Maritime Trade, in October 2017, he was appointed Director General for Maritime and Inland Waters Regulation, in June 2018, he returned to his position as Director General for Maritime Trade, in February 2019, he was appointed Acting Director General for Coastal Safety, in October 2019, he became Director General for Coastal Safety and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

He was appointed Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure on 22 June 2023.

He speaks English.

Session

• Ministers’ Roundtable: Transport and climate change: Moving forward from COP29

          Wednesday 21 May, 15:30 – 17:00