Ferry liner supports team of rival province

BURSA - Hürriyet Daily News

İDO’s CEO Sezgi gets a Bursaspor jersey from club officials with his name on it. DHA photo

Istanbul Ferries (İDO), the intercity company that also operates services to destinations in other provinces, has become a sponsor of Bursaspor, the football team from the northwestern province. The deal comes shortly after the Bursa Mayor launched a plan to found a rival ferry firm.

As part of the İDO deal, Bursaspor will carry the company’s logo on their shorts. Speaking at a ceremony for the deal in Bursa on Sept. 20, İDO Chief Executive Önder Sezgi said Bursa was one of the company’s main bases. The İDO line from Istanbul to Bursa connects two large industrial cities of the country and also shortens road transportation between many other provinces.

“Bursaspor has achieved very important successes so far, winning the league title [in 2010] following the four big clubs of the country,” Sezgi said at the ceremony.

Bursaspor Secretary-General İlhan Uslu said İDO’s support was important for the club as the team frequently travels to destinations in the Marmara region.

Bursa Municipality signed a deal in August with a Norwegian firm to buy its first ferry, in a bid to compete with İDO. The municipality is continuing its efforts to win a share in marine transportation between Istanbul and Bursa.

İDO has received a negative public reaction to its “flexible” pricing policy, initiated at the beginning of the summer. It stepped back from the policy as increasing numbers of the public objected to the company’s higher-priced last-minute tickets. Hamdi Akın, chairman of Akfen Holdingthat owns a 30 percent share in İDO, apologized for the price policy.