ANKARA — Safı Katı Yakıt has won a tender for Derince Sea Port's operating rights with a $543 million bid. The operation rights of the port located in Kocaeli, a province neighboring Istanbul, will be transferred for 39 years.

Conclusive bargaining negotiations were made for the tender of Derince Port with 39-year operational rights in the headquarters of the Prime Ministry Privatization Administration with three bidders - Yılport Holding, Kumkort Port Services and Safi Katı Yakıt.

During the open bidding, when Yılport Holding was eliminated first, Safı Katı Yakıt offered the highest bid for the transfer of operational rights of the port.

The port has increased its shipments by 20 percent in 2013, reaching 2 million 389 thousand tons in a year in car shipment and dry cargo trade.

Following the privatization, the port is expected to become one of the most outstanding seaports in Turkey.