Since July 1, Turkey has increased the cost of passage of ships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles by 15%. About this informs Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the country.
The tariff remained unchanged for nearly four decades until 2022, after which it was revised annually. From now on, the fee is $5.83 per “gold franc”.
“Thanks to the tolls we collect, we continue to improve our infrastructure and traffic monitoring systems to strengthen maritime safety and protect the environment in our straits – some of the world’s most complex and dangerous narrow waterways.” – said the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkey Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
According to the ministry, during 2024, 51,058 vessels subject to mandatory fees crossed the straits, the amount of which amounted to $227.4 million. Turkey’s sovereignty over the Bosphorus and Dardanelles is enshrined in the 1936 Montreux Convention, which guarantees the free movement of merchant ships at all times but imposes restrictions on warships.
The countries of the Black Sea region can pass their warships of any class through the straits, provided that the Turkish side is informed in advance. At the same time, countries that do not have access to the Black Sea are allowed passage only to surface ships with a limited tonnage.
