Traffic Separation Schemes

The limits of the traffic separation scheme for the Turkish Straits and their approaches, as adopted by the IMO and as established in accordance with Rule 10 of the Convention on the COLREG are provided below:

  Northern Limits:                                             Southern Limits:

  41^o16´N/ 028^o55´E                                      40^o 05´ N / 026^o 11´   E

  41^o21´N/ 028^o55´E                                      40^o 02´ N / 025^o 55´   E

  41^o21´N/ 029^o16´E                                      39^o 50´ N / 025^o 53´   E

  41^o14´N/ 029^o16´E                                      39^o 44´ N / 025^o 55´   E

                                                                        39^o 44´ N / 026^o 09´   E

 a. SP 1 Report

Masters, owners or agents of the vessels carrying dangerous cargo or the vessels that are 500 GT and above should submit a written Sailing Plan 1(SP-1) to the VTS Centers at least 24 hours prior to entry into the Turkish Straits. Masters, owners or agents of the vessels that are between 200-300m in length and/or vessels with a draft over 15m should submit a written Sailing Plan 1(SP-1) at least 48 hours prior to entrance.

Owners or operators of vessels that are more than 300m in length; vessels that are propelled by nuclear power; and vessels carrying nuclear cargo or nuclear waste provide information regarding their characteristics and cargo to the Administration during the planning stage of the voyage. The TSVTS and, if necessary the Administration, based upon the data provided by such vessels, shall inform the relevant vessel’s owner, operator or master, of the requirements and recommendations, if any, necessary to ensure a safe passage of the vessel through the Turkish Straits, taking into consideration all specifications of the vessels including the dimensions and maneuvering capabilities, the morphological and physical structure of the Turkish Straits, the condition of the season the navigation, safety of life, property and environment as well as the maritime traffic; the subject matter vessels that possess the necessary conditions for passage submit a SP 1 at least 72 hours in advance.

SP 1 REPORT FORM

 b. SP 2 Report

Ship masters who reported that their vessels are technically suitable and who have already submitted an SP 1 Report and masters or commanding officers of warships and state-owned vessels not used for commercial purposes, submit an SP 2 Report that has been prepared 2 hours or 20 miles (whichever comes first) prior to entry into the İstanbul or Çanakkale Straits to the TSVTS via the designated VHF/RT channel.

 After having submitted the SP 2 Report, vessels shall proceed taking into account information provided by the TSVTS and shall record in the ship’s log all information provided in the SP 2 Report and all information regarding traffic in the Turkish Straits.

 The SP 2 report shall be submitted to the concerned sector of the TSVTS area where the ship will enter into.

SP 2 REPORT FORM

c. Position Report

Vessels 20 meters in length and over that will enter the Straits of İstanbul and Çanakkale, when within 5 nautical miles from the entry to the Strait, shall provide a Position Report containing information identifying themselves to the TSVTS sector at the entry.

POSITION REPORT FORM

d. Call Point Report

Vessels 20 meters in length and over in passage through the İstanbul and Çanakkale Straits, should provide the Call Point Report via VHF/RT, to the concerned TSVTS sector, at the positions designated. These positions are the entry and exit points of the TSVTS. Furthermore, vessels should provide this report via VHF/RT channel to the new sector at each change of sector.
 

CALL POINT REPORT FORM

Please, kindly click underneath to download the MARITIME TRAFFIC REGULATIONS FOR THE TURKISH STRAITS AND THE MARMARA REGION :

Bosphorus General
Gelibolu
Kadikoy
Kumkapi
Nara
Turkeli


Please, click to download PDFs of:

VHF PROCEDURES
REPORTS “ARRIVAL AND MOVEMENT”


*Data quoted without any liability on MARTI SHIPPING AGENCY S.A. For possible changes and/or updated versions, please ensure to contact MARTI SHIPPING AGENCY S.A. agency@martiagency.com.tr, phone +90 216 4254646.