1. The Turkish Straits, comprising the Straits of Çanakkale (Dardanelles), the Sea of Marmara and the Istanbul (Bosphorous) Straits, are unique in many respects. The very narrow and winding shape of the Straits is more akin to that of a river. It is an established fact that the Turkish Straits are one of the most hazardous, crowded, difficult and potentially dangerous waterways in the world for mariners. All the dangers and obstacles characteristic of narrow waterways are present and acute in this critical sea lane.

2. Chief characteristics / navigationaly risks

2.1 The Turkish Straits have unique physical hydrological and oceanographic characteristic and complicated navigational conditions prevail in the area.

2.2 The Straits of Istanbul (Bosphorous) runs right across Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey with a population of 10 million. The Bosphorous Strait forms part of the port of Istanbul. It is included within the port limits.

2.3 One of the lags of the two bridges in the Bosphorous is grounded in the waters of the Strait.

2.4 Bosphorous is approximately 31 km long, with an average width of 1.5 km. It is only 700 m wide at its narrowest. Bosphorous takes several sharp turns. The ships are bound to alter course at least 12 times at these bends. At the narrowest point, Kandilli (700 m), a 45' course alteration is required. The current can reach 7-8 knots at this point. At Yeniköy, the necessary course alteration is 80'.

2.5 At the turns (Kandilli and Yeniköy) where significant course alterations have to be made, the rear and forward sights are totally blocked prior to and during the course alteration. The ships approaching from the opposite direction cannot be seen round the bends.

2.6 The Sea Marmara is approximately 225 km long.

2.7 The length of the Straits of Çanakkale (Dardanelles) is about 70 km, with a general width ranging from 1.3 km to 2 km. A very sharp course alteration is needed at the narrowest point.

2.8 The ships in transit in the Turkish Straits must pass through 325 km of waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Turkey. Overall transit time is about 16 hours.

2.9 Furthermore, strong currents and counter-currents (reaching 5 to 8 knots), constant change in their pattern, poor visibility due to thick fog, snow and rain are additional hazards in these narrow waterways.

3. Traffic Density

3.1 The Turkish Straits are one of the most crowded sea lanes in the world used for international navigation. Navigation in the Straits is highly congested by merchant traffic, coasters, fishing vessels and local traffic. This dense traffic includes the transport of noxious, dangerous and hazardous cargoes (oil, LNG,LPG, chemicals, other explosive and environmentally hazardous substances).

3.2 Date related to the volume of traffic is as follows:

• Approximately 45,000 vessels transit the Straits per year.
• Total vessel movement in the Bosphorous per day is approximately 1,350. This figure does not include the movement of transiting ships (vessels in transit southbound and/or northbound through the Bosphorous), leisure craft and fishing vessel.
• In 1994, 19,734 foreign flag vessels transited through this narrow waterway, with a total regular tonnage of 91.575.535 tons. (For the previous year (1993) the figures are 23,414 and 117,626,732 respectively.)
• 69 foreign warships transited through the Straits in 1994.
• There is also very heavy ferry traffic in the Bosphorous, which crosses between European and Asiatic sides.
• The number of local crossings by intra-city ferries and other shuttle boats is approximately 1,000. One-and-a-half million people are daily on the move at sea, crossing from one side to the other in Istanbul. The ferries cross the Straits in straight routes and diagonally as well.
• The risks and dangers associated with tanker navigation, maritime accidents and environmental catastrophe are aggravated with the increase in the density of traffic, tanker size and cargo capacity as well as nature of the cargo.

4. Expected increase in the level of traffic in the near future

4.1 Already congested and dense maritime traffic in the straits is expected to increase further mainly due to the following developments:

• The opening the Main-Danube Canal in September has linked the Rhine and Danube rivers, thereby creating a direct route between Rotterdam and Constanza. The North Sea and Black Sea has thus been integrated.
• An increase has recently been observed in the traffic originating from Volga-Baltic and Volga-Don Canals and abound to Mediterranean and to the Turkish ports.

5. Maritime incidents

5.1 In the last eleven years (1984-1994), 201 major incidents and many near casualties have occurred in the Straits, fortunately with relatively little damage done.

5.2 In 1994, 24 accidents have taken place, 22 of these accidents took place between 1st January to 30th June. The new Turkish Regulations for Navigation were put into effect on 1 July 1995.

6. Dangers and Risks involved

6.1 The nature, volume and frequency of vessel traffic, the increase in the size and tonnages of the vessels and the nature of cargoes transported have sharply increased the risks of maritime accidents which could have grave consequences in terms of ecological, environmental and physical disasters of an unprecedented nature and scale.

6.2 Dense maritime traffic and associated risks and dangers in the straits pose a serious threat to the physical and environmental security of Istanbul and to the lives of its 10 million population.

6.3 A collision or an environmental disaster will force the closure of the Straits for unpredictable periods. This force majeure situation will have the practical effect of denying, impairing and impeding the exercise of the right of navigation.

Foreign Merchant Vessels Operating or Transiting Through the Straits

          Total

Year     per year(*)                        Total Tonnage             Accidents

1994      19.734                             91.575.535                  24 (**)

1993      23.414                            117.626.723                 16

1992      22.530                            114.294.604                 17

1991      19.703                            109.928.619                 23

1990      20.515                            139.856.087                 30

1989      21.235                            160.522.887                 14

1988      22.332                            167.634.501                 16

1987      20.670                            149.744.757                 17

1986      19.906                            143.407.903                 16

1985      19.758                            140.244.416                 19

1984      21.191                            146.323.977                   9

1983      20.774                            134.379.759                 ---

1982      21.055                            127.809.034

1981      21.352                            127.112.620                201

1980      20.780                            128.085.698

1979      16.397                             95.417.716

1978

1977      19.801                            100.822.595

1976      19.639                            111.452.697

1975      14.561                              62.641.533

1974

1973

1972      19.106                              70.295.878

1971      

1970      17.911                              63.630.897

1969      17.159                              61.545.535

1968      17.077                              57.021.308

1967      17.398                              59.512.793

1966      15.833                              57.309.298

1965

1964      13.054                              46.404.518

1963      12.367                              41.669.091

1962

1961

1960        9.144                              28.735.726



      Number of Vessels 

1991 (SSCB)     8.877        37.769.540

1992 RF           7.924        30.219.055

1993 RF           6.322        23.251.077

1994 RF            5114        15.577.931

* Taking into consideration Turkish flagged vessels, these figures need to be approximately doubled to arrive at the total volume of maritime vessel traffic. 

** 22 of 24 casualties were observed between 1st January 1994 and 30th June 1994. (Turkish Regulations were put into effect as of 1st July 1994)

• Background Note on the Regulations for the Turkish Straits
• Safety of Navigation
• Maritime traffic regulations for the Turkish Straits and the Marmara Region