Below are the latest updates to the Turkish Straits Passage Regulations, which were published on April 18, 2022, and will come into force on May 15, 2022.
The most significant change is the tug escort requirement for tankers over 175m in the Istanbul Strait, which currently only applies to lengths over 200m, and there is still no daylight limit.
- LPG vessel with LOA up to 150m. and above should use pilotage services to pass through the Turkish Straits.
- LOA 150m LPG carrier. And only use pilotage services and tugboats to assist through the Turkish Straits during the day.
- Vessels with an LOA between 150m and 200m should use tugs of at least 60t bollard towing capacity to pass through the two straits.
- Vessels with an LOA of more than 200m should use tugs of at least 90t bollard towing capacity to pass through the two straits.
- Depending on sea/weather conditions, the number or capacity of tugboats may increase.
- Tankers with an LOA of 250m and above should be escorted by pilots and tugs through the Canakkale Strait during the day*
- Tankers with an LOA of 200m and above should be escorted by pilots and tugs through the Istanbul Strait during the day. *
- Tankers of LOA 175m and above should be escorted by pilots and tugs through the Istanbul Strait. *
- Vessels with an LOA of 250m and above should be escorted through the Istanbul Strait during the day by a tugboat escorted by a pilot and a tugboat*
Vessels that refuse to be escorted by tugboats will not be scheduled as usual and will wait until the VTS Centre deems it safe to pass, which will certainly result in long delays to the schedule given the current weather and sea conditions.
For tankers with an LOA of more than 200 million, the fixed tug escort fee in the Istanbul Strait is USD 6.000 and the fixed tug escort fee in the Canakkale Strait is USD 6.500.
Tug escort charges for tankers in the Istanbul Strait are up to LOA 199,99m. is $4.000.
Please note that on May 9, 2022, Coastal Safety revised the Istanbul Strait tugboat escort fees as follows, which will be effective from May 15, 2022:
