Turkish straits transit
Canal Navigator Giving You What You Need in Bosporus and Dardanelles transit Peace of Mind Included
Passage Rules
Agency Services in Turkish straits transit
-Main agency for transit of the straits
-Protecting agency
-Crew change
-Smooth sign on/off of the majority of nationalities
-Crew Medical attendance
-Cash to master
-Clearance and Delivery onboard the vessel of Spare parts or other consignments
-Ship’s mail
-Freight forwarding
-Supply of stores: Deck, Engine cabin, provisions, bonded stores, anti piracy stuff
-Supply of Fresh water, bunkers, lubricants, chemicals, etc.
-Supply of BA Charts & Nautical publications
-Surveys of all types, on/of hire bunker & condition survey, draft surveys, etc.
-Coordinate & follow up repairs onboard the ship carried out by local workshops
-Underwater hull inspections and cleaning
-Garbage removal
-Disposal ashore of sludge, slops, sediments, oily water, via tank barge
We do not charge protecting agency fees for attending ship’s items and only the actual cost of the offered services. Same is valid also for the vessels transiting canal under the attendance of the agent of the time charterer.
* Special services
We may assist ships arriving with serious handicaps missing anchor, cranes’ malfunction, non operational navigation systems, that otherwise would not be allowed to enter the straits experiencing long time delays and high costs, to overcome the problem quickly and efficiently. Contacting us well in advance of ship’s ETA is crucial for successful handling of the problem.
Safeguarding of ship’s interests
Our port captains follow up closely ship’s movements from arrival to departure 24/7 keeping all involved parties timely informed with ships’ transit prospects, entering and exiting time, always standing by to assist the master with required documents, inspections, etc if and when required.
Restrictions on Cypriot flag ships transiting Turkish straits
No any other service and only pilotage is provided to Cypriot vessels transiting Dardanelles
Dardanelles traffic schedule
There is no standard traffic scheme for Dardanelles transit northbound or southbound. Most of the time there is no transit delay. However the transit of one or more oil tankers of over 200 meters LOA postpones the transit of all the other vessels for several hours.
The time of entering in the strait of each vessel, announced by the VTS after vessel’s arrival and usually 3-4 hours before the scheduled entering time. The transit turn of each vessel based on the principal “fist come first served”.
Bosphorus traffic schedule
The traffic of Bosphorus moves for continuous 12 hours (0001-1200hrs) northbound and for 12 hours (1200-2400hrs) southbound. However it is not standard and changes daily according to the number and types of the vessels due to transit. The transit of tankers of over 200 meters LOA postpones the movement of all the other vessels and the transit delay affects and changes the traffic schedule.
The entering time of each vessel in the strait, announced by the VTS after the arrival of the vessel and usually 3-4 hours before the scheduled entering time. The transit turn of each vessel based on the principal “fist come first served”.
Passage planning & services to ships
Vessels due to transit Dardanelles and or Bosphorus strait and stop at the South anchorage area of Bosphorus to perform any type of supplies, crew change, inspections and or waiting orders are not scheduled for passage up to the time the master declares to the concerned VTS Sectors completion of the services and ship’s readiness for passage.
Services to ships are not allowed to be offered at the south or north waiting anchorage area of Dardanelles strait as well as at the north waiting anchorage area of Bosporus.
Waiting time of ships due to transit Bosphorus strait northbound
Ships due to transit the straits are allowed to stay in drifting condition at the waiting area or at the anchorage of Istanbul up to 48 hours free of anchorage fees.
Ships waiting over 48 hours and up to 7 days are charged anchorage fees basis tariff on “Gross Tonnage”. Ships waiting for over 7 days must pass “free pratique formalities” and charged port arrival & departure fees same with vessels calling at a port for cargo operations.
Crew change
Crew change can be carried out at the waiting area of Istanbul while a vessel is waiting her transit turn for passing Bosphorus strait.
Entry visa upon arrival at the airport can be granted to those holding valid passports and or seaman’s books issued in USA, Canada, Australia and Europe.
Entry visa on arrival may be grated also to certain other nationalities. Please contact us for more info.
Spare parts
Spare parts or other items can be dispatched to Turkey via airfreight or courier service for delivery onboard a vessel waiting for Bosphorus strait transit turn. Please contact us for more info.
Bunkering
Bunkers can be delivered at the anchorage of Istanbul for a ship waiting transit turn of Bosphorus strait or again at the anchorage of Istanbul after ship’s exit Bosphorus strait, if the delay is not an issue.
Surveys
On/off hire bunker and or condition survey or other surveys can be carried out at the anchorage of Istanbul while a vessel is waiting for Bosphorus strait transit turn.
Bosphorus transit of tankers over 200 m LOA
Tankers of LOA over 200 meters are allowed to transit at early daylight hours or with escort tug after obtaining special transit permission.
Assistance of tug boat is compulsory for tankers over 250 meters LOA.
Permission of Port Authority is required and transit plan for tankers over 300 m. LOA.
Bosphorus transit of ships of over 200 m LOA and or max draft over 15 meters
Vessels of the above characteristics are allowed and scheduled to transit only at daylight.
Pilotage is optional but strongly recommended. Assistance of tug boat is not required.