The demolition of the Golden Horn shipyards and the construction of a hotel or a shopping center in this area has been on the agenda recently. The protection of this historic building is important for every period. Similar speculation about the demolition in time took place about the Algerian Hasan Pasha Barracks in Kasımpaşa. However, this did not happen. This is in the memories as a happy development. The protection of these structures, which are regarded as the heritage of Turkish history in every period, means the protection of our heritage. A nation exists with its history and is respected by other states. In this regard, it is important to protect the values ​​that reflect our history with great precision. An important task of every Turkish citizen should be to protect this heritage and transfer it to other generations.

Within the scope of this article, the reforms of the Golden Horn Shipyards and the Ottoman Empire, which have a history of 559 years, are mentioned. We think that it would be useful to start the article with Turkish maritime history first. Understanding the value of Turkish maritime history will be more useful to understand the value of the Golden Horn Shipyard. Likewise, an unfamiliar phenomenon will never be fully understood. It is also important to know the foundation of maritime history. The Seljuk State, which came to life before the Ottoman State, achieved significant success and also guided the Ottoman State in many areas. The Seljuk State, which forms the basis of many settlements, has been a pioneer in forming the foundation of the institutions owned by the Ottoman State. We see the skeleton of the Ottoman institutions in Seljuk. Such guidance facilitated the development of the Ottoman State in a short time.

It is claimed that the history of Turkish maritime began with the Seljuk State. The 11th century, when the Seljuk State reached the Marmara and Aegean shores, is considered the date of this beginning. The findings obtained as a result of the excavations made near Aral Lake revealed evidence that Turks were engaged in maritime even before this date. It is more realistic in this respect that the Turks started their adventure with maritime before coming to Anatolia. The fact that many extreme principalities established around the seas have built strong navies and the ability to carry out powerful attacks on the Aegean Sea is also important proof that the Turks were already engaged in shipping. Based on this experience, it is noteworthy that strong naval activities are carried out by the Turkish states. The first of these sailors established in Anatolia is Çaka Principality founded around İzmir. As understood from its name, Çaka Bey founded this principality. A modern shipyard was established in 1081 by Çaka Bey in İzmir. This is the first known shipyard in our maritime history. Therefore, the establishment date of this shipyard is known and celebrated in our country as the date of establishment of the naval forces. After Çaka Bey;

• Aydınoğulları,

• Karesioğulları,

• Menteşeoğulları,

• Saruhanoğulları also established strong navies.

• Karesioğulları established an important shipyard in Edincik.

• Also, the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan 1st Alaeddin Keykubat built ships in Alanya and Sinop shipyards and established strong fleets. 

In this way, he managed to dominate both the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The structure that the Turks built as the first organized shipyard is Alanya Shipyard. Alanya Shipyard is in a remarkable position in this respect.

When the Seljuk domination started to weaken in Anatolia, the southern shores of the Gulf of Izmit were seized by Osmanoğulları and the first ships were started to be built in Karamürsel. In the period of Yıldırım Beyazıd, a shipyard and a castle were built in Gallipoli by the instructions given to Sarıca Pasha after the capture of Çanakkale Strait. Thus, the foundations of the Gallipoli Shipyard were laid in 1390. This foundation is a very important move for the conquest of Istanbul. After the conquest of Istanbul, their rulers made many attempts to develop the navy. After the conquest of Istanbul, a giant shipyard covering the area between Kasımpaşa and Hasköy was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and the shipyards left from the Greeks were not used in any way. This shipyard developed every period as a large shipyard representing the naval power of the Ottoman Empire.

The establishment of this large building with Golden Horn Shipyards coincides with the date after the conquest of Istanbul, as mentioned earlier. This enormous shipyard, the construction of which started in 1455 on the Kasımpaşa-Hasköy line, consisted of only a few sleds in Kasımpaşa in the first years of its establishment. It was built in the form of a small building. Divanhane, whose captain was Derya, was located in the shipyard center. In the 1st Selim period, namely Yavuz Sultan Selim, the shipyard expanded to Hasköy. The number of closed eyes reached 100 during this period and exceeded 200 during the period of Sultan Süleyman. The shipyard started to develop periodically. Three large eyes have been added over time for large galleys called Bashkir. In the following periods, this structure:

• Kalyoncu barracks,

• Leverage Pools,

• Sailing sewing plants,

• New material warehouses,

• Warehouses were also added. This shipyard, also called Tersane-i Amire, has become the biggest shipyard in the world over time. This shipyard, which has the most advanced technology of the period, attracted attention among competing shipyards.

In the 16th century, Tersane-i Amire had become a center using the most advanced ship technology in the world. The technical equipment of the shipyard was at a very advanced level. It was possible to produce more than 150 galleys in a short period of 5 months, in place of the Ottoman navy that was destroyed in 1571 by the Battle of Inebahtı Naval War. Already, this production was made and a new navy was destroyed. In addition to being a production center, this shipyard was also an institution providing training for the training of technical personnel needed for other shipyards as a place in today's universities setting. Because of these features, Tersane-i Amire was a building that attracted the attention of Venice and Genoese. Venetians and Genoese constantly wanted to steal information from this shipyard. To prevent technology espionage, in 1577, the walls of the shipyard area were raised with the order of Sokullu Mehmet Pasha. Shipyard entrances and exits have also started to be done in a controlled manner. Thus, spying on technology has been prevented.

The departure of the ships from Tersane-i Amire was accompanied by ceremonies. These ceremonies are called Tenzil Merasimi. The day of these ceremonies was calculated by the müneccimbaşı and it was ensured to coincide with one of the auspicious days. After the day calculation was made, this special day was submitted to the sultan's approval. After the Sultan gave his approval, the state official was invited by the grand vizier in the order of the protocol. Before the ceremony, ships were covered with fabrics called chandeliers sent by the Sultan and the state official. This custom was called Chandelier Ceremony. The sultan would come to the shipyard by boat on the day the ship was launched. When the sultan's boat approached the shipyard, Toprakpusi Ceremony was performed. Afterward, some different ceremonies were made and a name was given to the ship.

After the ceremony, gifts were given to the workers and craftsmen working in the shipyard. The adventure of the ship would thus be completed.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the majority of the carpenters working in the shipyard constituted the Chania Greeks with Venetian Cretan culture. In the 18th century, almost all of the masters working in the shipyard with half of the naval personnel consisted of Christians. Over time, the ship production techniques were revised, and steel was replaced by wood, and the need to change the shipyard rules. These traditional methods were used until the end of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman State, which had been defeated in Inebahtı, had re-established a navy. By the end of the 18th century, the power of the navy was largely lost. The defeat against the Russians in 1770 also fueled this situation. The Ottoman domination in the seas seemed to have ended now. Sailors could no longer be raised as before. Seafarers were not aware of the combat techniques. Maritime duties were changing hands in exchange for bribery. Even the technical equipment of the ships was not lubricated. So serious discipline was observed in the navy.

The fact that the Navy was undisciplined in this way required a serious reform of the navy. It was an urgent need for the Navy to recover. The person who could do this was an experienced sailor. To meet this need, the Algerian Hasa Pasha Captain was brought to Derya. As the Pasha took office, he disciplined the galleon captain outposts in Kasımpaşa, Galata, Tophane and Beyoğlu districts. Kasımpaşa was known as the place of seafarers at that time. When the Ottoman Empire was not at once, the navy would anchor in Kasımpaşa. Sailors would sit here. Cezayirli Hasan Pasha built the Kalyoncu Barracks here for the first time. In this way, it would not be necessary to collect military forces from outside for the navy.

Another important innovation that Cezayirli Hasan Pasha made was to establish the Engineerhane-i Bahri Hümayun. The Imperial Naval Academy was thus established. Experts from abroad were brought in to teach at this school. There were blackboards and wooden desks in the classrooms of the modern center. Despite these developments, even when the third fleet of the Navy came to the throne, it still has not reached the desired level. The work of putting the Navy in order was given to the Chief Commander Hüseyin Pasha by 3rd Selim. Maritime affairs were regulated by Hüseyin Pasha with a law. Thus, the captains would be put to the exam and the sea soldiers would be trained. Engineers from France and Switzerland were brought in for training. Dry pools were built for repair works by expanding the borders of Tersane-i Amire. Shipyards that are partially impossible to work have been repaired. Thus, 45 pieces of ships were produced from here. The Ottoman navy again became the most powerful navy in Europe towards the end of the Selim III period. The development of the Ottoman shipyard will continue in the following periods. In fact, in 1839, the biggest warship of the world, Mahmudiye Kalyonu, was to be left on the sea through the Taşkızak shipyard. With the large construction pool built-in 1870 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz, the construction of large tonnage warships was also provided. The activities of the Ottoman shipyard will begin to decline after the declaration of the 2nd Constitutional Monarchy. After the proclamation of the Republic, this shipyard will be transferred to the City Lines Company. Today, there are 3 shipyards on the coastline between Kasımpaşa Hasköy. These:

• Golden Horn Shipyard,

• Taşkızak Shipyard,

• Camialtı Shipyard. 

Of these shipyards that have been standing for more than 500 years, only the Golden Horn Shipyard operates today. Haliç Shipyard has also been established by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality since 2010 and has been established in its structure, İstanbul Şehir Hatları Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. operated by. The Kalyoncu Barracks, established by Algerian Hasan Pasha to raise qualified sailors, also benefits the Northern Sea Area Command. The importance of Kalyoncu Barracks and Golden Horn Shipyards in terms of our Turkish history is great. The protection of these two structures is important for our naval history. These two structures represent the Ottoman naval history today.

These two structures should be revised by designing. A large maritime museum should be created by turning it into a museum. These structures, which are the maritime heritage of Turkish history, should be taken under protection as a museum. This is how the Ottoman maritime history can be claimed. Protection of the Golden Horn Shipyard, one of the most important structures of Istanbul, is very important in this respect. Our maritime heritage should be protected, and constructions that would damage this heritage should be avoided. Transferring this legacy from the past to future generations is very important in this respect.