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:
To ease maritime traffic in the Dardanelles, reduce the waiting time spent at /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.”
