During the Ukraine-Russia war, the mines laid in the Black Sea, threatening the Bosphorus, hit the ship traffic.
The number of ships in the Bosphorus, where 130 ships pass daily, has decreased to 35. Chairman of the Maritime Safety Association Cahit Istikbal said, “Mines need to be detected and destroyed before they reach the Bosphorus. During the Cold War, a floating iron net was installed in the sea to protect against submarines and mines, something similar can be done.”
The threat of sea mines left by ukraine against the Russian army in the black sea is increasing day by day. While the mines detected in Sarıyer and İğneada are destroyed, the vigilance in the Bosphorus continues.
Companies do not insure
Stating that 130 ships pass through the Bosphorus daily, Vehbi Koç, the shipowner and the President of Piri Reis Maritime Foundation, said that this number has dropped to 30 due to the recent events. Explaining that insurance companies do not provide guarantees to the ships that will sail to the Black Sea, Koç said, “Mines thought to have been laid by Ukraine started to appear in different parts of the Black Sea. As such, insurance companies do not provide guarantees for the ships that will sail to the Black Sea due to both the Russian embargoes and the war, and they insure the ones they insure at very high prices. For this reason, the ship traffic in the Black Sea and the Bosphorus decreased by 80 percent. “Today, only 30-40 ships pass through the strait, which is used by 130 ships daily.”
Against mines and submarines
Chairman of the Maritime Safety Association Cahit Istikbal, , drew attention to the importance of the Straits, one of the most important water crossings in the world, and the extent of the danger in the Black Sea, and suggested the establishment of a mine network. Pointing out that this method was used against Soviet mines and submarines during the Cold War, Istikbal said, “Now, technology has developed a lot, there are mine detection radar systems, but a similar measure can be taken as well. The mines left in the Black Sea must be detected and destroyed before they enter the Bosphorus.”
It also affects the airport
Reminding that the Black Sea has only one exit as a sea structure, Istikbal said: “As it is known, the exit is the Bosphorus. Therefore, there is a current towards the Bosphoruseverywhere in the Black Sea. 20 percent of the ships passing through the Bosphorus are tankers. Measures should be increased in all of Turkey’s Black Sea coasts. On the coast of Karaburun, there is a port where the tankers carrying fuel to the planes using Istanbul Airport. Measures should be increased for these regions as well. Otherwise it will be a disaster.”
