By Anadolu Agency
Uraloğlu told an AA correspondent that the transit fees to be collected from ships passing through the Turkish Straits without calling at any port, which are determined in ‘gold francs’, will be revised.
Uraloğlu stated that, as in previous years, transit fees for the Turkish Straits will be readjusted this year in a way that contributes to the country’s economy, and reminded that these fees are updated every year on July 1st.
Uraloğlu stated that according to the Montreux Straits Convention signed in 1936, the “gold franc” and the net tonnage (NRT) of the ships are used as the unit for calculating the fees, and continued as follows:
“From 1983 to October 7, 2022, a fee of $0.80 per net ton was charged to international vessels passing through the straits. After 39 years, in 2022, we updated this fee with a Presidential Decree, increasing it to $4.08 per net ton. We further increased this fee to $4.42 from July 1, 2023, to $5.07 from July 1, 2024, and to $5.83 from July 1, 2025. This year, we are making another adjustment and updating the transit fee to be collected from international vessels passing through the straits to $6.70 as of July 1, 2026.”
Ships are charged three fees for crossing the Bosphorus.
Uraloğlu stated that international ships passing through the Turkish Straits will be charged according to updated tariffs, and that these latest regulations will increase foreign exchange revenues for the state treasury.
Uraloğlu stated that ships are charged fees based on three categories according to the Montreux Straits Convention.
Uraloğlu stated that payments are requested from ships passing through without stopping for health inspections, lighthouse and rescue services, and that these fees have contributed to the country’s economy over the years.
Minister Uraloğlu stated the following:
“The contribution of fees collected from ship passages to our country’s economy over the years was $38 million for passages between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, and $223 million for passages between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, we expect the revenue from ships passing through the Turkish Straits to reach $254 million. This increase in revenue, which will bring a significant amount of foreign currency to our country, and the price updates made, clearly demonstrate the contribution it will make to the economy. Thus, the aim is to strengthen the foreign currency inflow to our country and increase state revenues.”