New regulation on the passage of international ships through the straits

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the fees charged from ships passing through the Turkish Straits without calling at any port have been rearranged. Minister Uraloğlu said, "Last year, for the first time in 39 years, we are introducing a new increase as of 1 July to the fee increase that will increase the inflow of foreign currency to the country through the Straits. With the new price update, international ships will pass through the Turkish Straits at increased prices over the newly determined figures."

The first update was made in 2022 after 39 years

Minister Uraloğlu stated that the rules determined by the Montreux Convention were applied in the Strait passage fees and said, "From 1983 until 7 October 2022, international ships passing through the Straits were charged $ 0.8063 per net ton of ships. After 39 years, on 7 October 2022, we updated these fees with the Presidential Decree on 7 October 2022 and increased the fee charged per net ton from the ships to 4.08 dollars. We are updating this fee again as 4.42 dollars as of 1 July 2023."

Prices will be updated every year

Minister Uraloğlu stated that according to the Montreux Convention, ships that will pass through the Turkish Straits without calling are charged for 3 items, namely health inspection service, lighthouse service and distress service, and said, "The calculation of the fees is based on the net tonnage (NRT) of the ships, and the unit is based on the "Gold Franc". These prices were fixed until last year. With the Presidential Decree, we will update these prices every year."

"The revenue from our straits will increase"

Sharing an example of the latest price update, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said, "When we consider a ship with a net tonnage of 10 thousand; Before 7 October 2022, a ship was paying a total of 3 thousand 240 dollars in lighthouse, distress and health services. This fee increased to 16 thousand 393 dollars in October 2022, when the first price regulation was made. With the new tariff to be passed on 1 July, a ship with a net tonnage of 10 thousand tonnes will have to pay 17 thousand 760 dollars. With this increase, we are taking a historical step that will increase foreign currency inflow to the country."