Turkey has increased the transit fees for international vessels passing through the Bosphorus (Istanbul) and Dardanelles (Canakkale) straits by approximately 15 percent. This decision officially came into effect today, July 1.
According to sea-news.az under the new tariff, the transit fee for ships will be $6.7 per net tonnage (NRT).
According to Turkeys Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, this marks the fourth update to transit fees in the last four years (since 2022, fees have been indexed annually on July 1). Thanks to previous tariff adjustments, an additional $31 million has been generated for the Turkish treasury, with total annual revenue reaching $254 million.
For comparison, the dynamic of transit fee changes over the years is as follows:
- 1983–2022: $0.8 (remained unchanged for 39 years)
- 2022: $4.08
- 2023: $4.42
- 2025: $5.83
- 2026 (effective July 1): $6.7
Approximately 40,000 ships pass through these straits annually, which connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean via the Sea of Marmara and hold strategic importance for global maritime trade. Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has the right to charge transit vessels for sanitary inspections, lighthouse, and rescue services (in Gold Franc equivalents) and to restrict the movement of warships during emergencies.
For detailed information on the financial impact of the new transit fees on shipowners and overall maritime costs, you can follow the “Report on Turkish Straits Transit Fees.” This short video project visually explains how fees have changed over the years and outlines the current costs for a 10,000-ton vessel.
