Having been home to important routes and many cultures throughout history, Ayvalık's marina continues to embrace this glorious history, culture and diversity.
Görkem Baygın, Setur Marinas Ayvalık Front Office Representative
It can be said that the history of Ayvalık was written by the sea. That history begins in 1623 with pirates. Islanders in the Edremit Gulf flee from pirates and establish Ayvalık. When Mehmet the Conqueror conquers Lesbos in 1462, piracy ends and the city starts to develop.
Ayvalık experiences its most glorious period in the 19th century. The city streets are filled with beautiful examples of neo-classical architecture. Founded in 1803, the Ayvalık Academy teaches philosophy, philology, logic, physics and mathematics. Meanwhile, olive oil and soap factories become the determinants of the city's economy.
Turks and Greeks live together in Ayvalık for many years. Beginning to play during the period when Greece declared its independence, the music of separation strikes its final note with the War of Independence and the population exchange that followed. Nevertheless, as soon as you dock a boat at the Ayvalık marina today, you immediately notice the multiculturalism and the glorious sensibility of the past. You feel in your heart that the sounds you hear are not just a break, the scent you smell is not just a refuge and the colors you see are not just an escape.
Maritime gains momentum in Ayvalık in the 19th century when people unite to widen the strait and dredge the harbor, allowing ships to dock. A harbor with a main breakwater and lighthouses is built upon the increase in maritime trade over time. The green and red lights you meet as you enter the strait, which have been in existence for years, and which change their disguises according to the sensibility of the age in some periods of time, are among the symbols of Ayvalık.
Nowadays, the area southwest of the inner harbor, where the Ayvalık marina is located, is used as an amusement park. The city is introduced to the marina business in 1985 with Ayvalık Marina A.Ş., founded by seven partners from Ankara. Although the newly established marina consists only of a main breakwater and an administrative building, it begins to meet the needs of yachters and contribute to the maritime activities of the region.
The marina is transferred to Koç Group in August 1997 and becomes the 4th marina to be acquired by Setur Marinas. The first manager of the marina is Ertuğ Günay.
The marina, which had capacity for only 120 yachts in those years, has 1 pontoon and 3 additional pontoons added. Thus, the capacity at sea reaches 200. It also has a land parking area with capacity for 150 yachts. Setur Marinas completes the Migros building, which was still under construction at the time of the transfer, and puts it into service in a way that it can also serve outside. The Total gas station in the land parking area, which initially served both boats and land vehicles, is renovated as Opet after Opet Stations were acquired by the Koç Group and starts to serve only boats.
The marina develops as Ayvalık develops. During the 2000s, a yacht market, food & beverage venues and a hangar are added to the marina. The administrative building is separated into commercial units. During this period, Cavit Ünlüsu, Ahmet Yücel Alibeyler, Zafer Ergül, Serhat Maya and Umut Tepedelenlioğlu serve as marina managers, respectively.
Land renovation project starts in 2022 for the first time under the management of Onur Kunduz, the marina manager. After Serhan Ceyhan's architectural project is approved, the construction of the renovation project, for which a land survey has been carried out and a construction permit has been obtained, begins. The first phase of the two-phase project is completed within a year.
Süleyman Ercan gets assigned as the marina manager in March 2023. Permit processes and phase preparations for the second phase are completed with the arrival of Ercan. Construction of the Setur Marina Ayvalık Market begins in November 2023. Brand mix works are conducted while construction works are ongoing. Upon completion of the lease negotiations and the finalization of the construction, stores are delivered to these brands.
Eventually, most of the 31 units are opened in October 2024 and begin serving the people of the region. When other businesses open in 2025, the Market takes its current shape. Ayvalık Marina, which is an indispensable stop for north-south voyages with its location and new market, continues to operate with a 100% occupancy rate with capacity for 240 yachts at sea and 30 yachts on land.
The marina, which hosts many events every year, is now the new meeting point for both sailors and Ayvalık locals with its popular restaurants and globally renowned brands.
