Scroll

09 Oct 2025 / Turkish Straits, Türkiye

Updated maritime traffic regulations coming into force

An updated Directive of Maritime Traffic Regulations for the Turkish Straits has been published by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, General Directorate of Maritime Affairs and will come into force on Monday 13 October.

The main changes are as follows:

  • Container vessels with a LOA 300 meters and over will be allowed to transit during night time.
  • To ensure effective traffic planning for container and passenger ships with a LOA of 300 meters and over during their passage through the Dardanelles, a regulation has been added requiring the VTS Center to be notified of any changes more than 30 minutes to the declared arrival time of the ships at least 6 hours in advance.
  • The tow length allowed for passage by Turkish-flagged tugboats belonging to companies engaged in submarine water services and port construction has been increased from 90 meters to 120 meters.
  • LPG vessels in ballast condition with a LOA of 150-199,99 meters will be allowed to transit during night time at the Dardanelles with pilot and escort of a tug.

To ease maritime traffic in the Dardanelles, reduce the waiting time spent at anchor/drift by vessels, and increase navigational safety, the following has been added to regulations regarding the Dardanelles in Article 15 of the Directive titled "General Rules of Passage for Vessels in the Turkish Straits" which includes regulations on the use of pilots and tugboats:

“It is strongly recommended that the vessels specified below carry out their passage through the Dardanelles, including at night, under the guidance of a pilot and accompanied by tugboats of the number and power specified in subparagraph (e) of the first paragraph of Article 7, 9 of this Directive.
a) Vessels with an LOA of 200 meters and over, as specified in subparagraph (3) of subparagraph (t) of the first paragraph of Article 2 of this Directive.
b) All vessels, excluding passenger ships, with an LOA of 250 meters and over, not carrying dangerous cargo.
c) Vessels with an LOA of 250 meters and over, as specified in subparagraph (2) of subparagraph (t) of the first paragraph of Article 2 of this Directive.”

For information about operations in Türkiye, contact GAC Türkiye at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

Make an
enquiry

enquiry icon

Find your
country

country icon