Türkiye’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu reported that a record 83,000 ships navigated the Turkish Straits in 2023, underscoring the strategic significance and challenges of managing maritime traffic in these critical waterways.

Speaking at the Istanbul Ship Traffic Services Center, Uraloğlu highlighted the importance of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits as key transit corridors for global trade and energy. He emphasized that these straits are crucial for the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions, with the Bosphorus, in particular, requiring ships to make numerous course adjustments due to its narrow width and challenging conditions.

“The Turkish Straits are an essential waterway and energy transit corridor for the entire world,” Uraloğlu said. “The Bosphorus is a critical trade passage where the Asian and European continents are just 700 meters apart, and vessels must navigate through 12 course changes of up to 80 degrees.”

Uraloğlu noted the various maritime challenges, including strong north-south surface currents exceeding 6 nautical miles per hour, whirlpools, and foggy conditions that complicate navigation. “Seasonal currents and turbulent waters add to the challenges faced by mariners,” he added.

The minister provided detailed statistics on shipping traffic, revealing that in 2023, the Bosphorus handled 39,000 ship movements carrying 416 million tons of cargo, including 165 million tons of hazardous materials such as petroleum. The Dardanelles Strait saw 44,892 ship movements with 550 million tons of cargo, including 185 million tons of hazardous materials.

Uraloğlu highlighted the increasing size of ships navigating the straits, noting a consistent rise in vessels longer than 250 meters over the past five years. This increase, coupled with heightened maritime traffic and hazardous cargo, has intensified the responsibilities of the Turkish Straits Ship Traffic Services.

The minister also pointed out improvements in pilotage services. The pilotage rate in the Bosphorus rose from 40% in 2003 to 65% in 2023, while the Dardanelles Strait saw an increase from 29% in 2003 to 55% in 2023. As of 2023, pilotage rates have reached 99% for ships over 150 meters in the Bosphorus and 78% in the Dardanelles Strait.

Additionally, Uraloğlu noted a significant increase in escort services for risky vessels. The number of ships receiving escort services in the Bosphorus grew from 848 in 2017 to 8,000 in 2023, while the Dardanelles Strait saw an increase from 574 to 2,500 annually.

Uraloğlu concluded by affirming Türkiye’s commitment to maintaining maritime safety and ensuring secure navigation through these vital straits. (ILKHA)