MEKE was founded by Mehmet Kemerli, a maritime and environment-lover entrepreneur with the ambition to set up his own business after leaving Shell Oil Company. It was established as a private company in 1977 in Ayvansaray, Istanbul's shipyard region of that time. The company provided MARPOL services under the brand Gemi Sintine Servisi (Ship Bilge Water Collection Services) for the first time in Turkey. The company directed its efforts towards emergency response in oil accidents with its intervention to petroleum-derived waste spilled from an exploded bilge hose and has become the first private company in the sector.

MEKE’s name comes from one of the first affected seabirds from an oil accident. A black Eurasian Coot symbolises a cleaned sea in the middle of an oil spill with its white stain on its forehead. The company has a leading position within the Marine Environment Protection and Cleaning sector, and carries out its services with the goal of 'Leaving Our Children Clean Seas'.

MEKE was established to ensure its integrated management system is a living, effective and sustainable system for making all their services and activities sensitive to the environment. Human health is a priority, their services and activities are structured to ensure quality and customer satisfaction. Today they are working with governmental authorities, private sector, and NGOs.