Turkey Imposes Restrictions on Commercial Ships Bound for the Black Sea Following Increase in Attacks in the Region

Turkish authorities have restricted the passage through the Bosporus of commercial ships bound for the Black Sea, as maritime security concerns have increased following recent attacks on vessels in the area, Bloomberg reported.

Several ships en route to Novorossiysk, a Russian port of particular importance for oil and grain exports, have been informed that transit permits are not currently being issued. In other cases, operators have been told that the review of applications may take longer.

Sources said Turkish authorities had not provided an official reason for the decision. According to notices received by several ships, the measure also covers voyages to Ukrainian ports.

Meanwhile, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show that vessels bound for ports in Bulgaria and Turkey have continued to pass through the Dardanelles Strait.

The restriction on movement was imposed after attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea intensified, with several Turkish-owned vessels also affected. Ankara has repeatedly called for increased protective measures in the maritime area.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said at the beginning of this week that drone attacks on two Turkish ships had wounded several crew members, including Turkish nationals.

“We reiterate our call on all parties, particularly the warring parties, to urgently implement concrete measures to ensure maritime security in the Black Sea,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Authorities in Ankara have warned that an escalation of the situation could have far-reaching consequences, including for food security.

The new measures risk adding pressure on international trade at a time when wars and conflicts in other areas have significantly disrupted the movement of oil and goods. At the same time, the ongoing attacks between Russia and Ukraine have increased uncertainty over grain supplies from the Black Sea region.