Today we’d like to introduce you to Seda Turhan and Derya Yenice Oflu.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When we were in Turkey/ Istanbul, we were one of the first female oceangoing master and chief engineer. For 15 years, we have developed our skills as an oceangoing master, chief engineer, and maritime consultant. Our success and deep passion for life on the water led us to Miami, Florida where we continued specializing in new, forward-thinking businesses. In 2017, we co-founded Domer Marine and Domer Trade, two visionary female-owned companies supporting the Maritime Industry with forward-thinking training and economic solutions. Domer Marine provides training solutions for Maritime Industry that includes online, computer-based, and virtual reality simulation systems and creates Expert Virtual Reality and interactive platforms for all industries. Domer Trade specializes in repurposing intermodal shipping containers into storage containers, offices, homes, shelters, and other functional spaces for a variety of applications.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life has been always an adventure for us and every step we took there always has been ups and downs. Being first female deck officer and marine engineer in the shipping industry was a tough road. We needed to prove people that women can work as hard as men. After we became captain and chief engineer, we were a good influence for the young females who wanted to work as a mariner. We have left behind many things after moving to the United States like our marine career, our loved ones and families & friends. Basically we have started a new life from scratch and build a new life style with our husbands and adorable daughters.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Domer Trade & Domer Marine – what should we know?
As Domer Trade, the company specializes in repurposing intermodal shipping containers into storage containers, offices, homes, shelters, and other functional spaces for a variety of applications. There is growing worldwide interest in re-using and recycling shipping containers, of which there are over 15 million decommissioned across the globe. And as thousands more are produced daily and trade imbalances persist, that number continues to grow and become a significant environmental issue. Very few alternative options exist aside from repurposing containers into shelters, homes, and other spaces, a social and architectural trend that is gaining traction worldwide. Shipping containers are made for fighting with tough weather conditions and building a home from them is the most durable solution, especially for the areas which are face hurricanes and other severe weather conditions.
From Starbucks stores in America to student housing in France to emergency clinics in Africa, containers are becoming a common, if not essential, component of environmentally-conscious architecture as well as pro-active approaches to disaster relief. Domer Trade leverages these trends, as well as its relationships with a network of shipping partners, to the source, convert, and sell containers to the government, individuals, and other businesses, for use as disaster relief housing, mobile, and modular offices, portable buildings, stackable offices, and even self-sustaining homes.
Especially nowadays, people work from home due to Covid-19 epidemic and it created the need of people’s own office space. We supply permanent or mobile insulated air conditioned offices. You could easily place it in your backyard and hook it up with the electric power. It may be a great solution for office needs, guest room or hobby room. You don’t need to deal with all construction issues.
Domer Marine’s products and services that try to contribute to the traditional maritime industry with innovative approaches. The services which include virtual training ships, Re-constructed Accidents/Events, experience simulations, mathematical and physical algorithm Integrated simulations, augmented reality, artificial Intelligence Crowd Simulation, mixed reality integrated watchkeeper assistance, VR trainer interface to create their own scenario, onboard training system, secure – face recognition, interactive contents – Video, 3D model, assessments, analytics/reporting system, monitoring. Our final product, remote ship inspection platform&tool “Marinspector” provides a safe and reliable system, to perform inspections effectively, efficiently without any restrictions.
Although the Company will compete with other businesses that either re-purpose shipping containers or provide Virtual Reality and online training programs, both companies’ unique diversity of end-to-end turn-key services will attract a wide range of customers and provide two distinct revenue streams, which will help the business remain stable even during market fluctuations. In addition, the extensive maritime experience of the Company’s management team, coupled with its large network of businesses and individuals within the industry, will be a boon to the Company. The Company will also benefit from its location in Florida, in the heart of PortMiami and Port Everglades, allowing it to tap into a thriving marine commercial district and giving it convenient access to international markets.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
We are mariners so we used to be patient, reliable, practical, and hard-working people. Without our past as the first female workers onboard, none of those life-changing experiences would have happened. We had tried to empower an emerging generation of the young women to be changemakers in the marine industries and show the world “women could make anything they want”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.domertrade.com www.domermarine.com
- Phone: 305 602 3036
- Email: info@domertrade.com info@domermarine.com
- Instagram: @domertrade @domermarine
- Facebook: @domertrade
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaJrOt_7h1UHmp3e62uVPfg?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Wista FL
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
