Turkey raises transit fees again for Bosphorus and Dardanelles
2 Min Read
Transit fees through Turkey’s strategic straits have surged 7.2 times since 2022, with new funds supporting coastal safety and emergency services.
-
Oil chemical tanker Manaslu sails across the Bosphorus Strait, in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Turkey has announced a 15% increase in transit fees for ships navigating the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, effective July 1, 2025. The move comes as part of Ankara’s annual fee review and reflects the ongoing recalibration of passage costs under the Montreux Convention.
Turkish Minister of Transportation Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed the update, noting that "the fees collected from the vessels transiting through the straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles, under the Montreux Convention, are calculated based on the net tonnage of ships. From July 1, 2025, they will be increased by 15% compared to last year, to $5.83 per ton."
This latest hike marks the fourth such increase since 2022, when the Turkish government resumed fee adjustments after nearly four decades of fixed rates.
From 1984 to 2022, the fee remained unchanged at $0.80 per ton. With the cumulative increases, the cost of passage has risen more than sevenfold.
Ankara argues that the adjustment is necessary due to the growing volume of maritime traffic and the associated risks posed to the densely navigated straits. The revenue, officials say, supports vital coastal infrastructure, including the Coast Guard, emergency medical teams, and maritime rescue services.
In 2024, over 51,000 vessels passed through the Turkish straits, generating approximately $227 million in transit revenue.
Montreux convention
Following World War I and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits were open to both civilian and military vessels without restriction. Oversight of the straits was placed under the International Straits Commission, operating under the League of Nations.
After extensive negotiations involving both rejections and compromises, a final agreement was reached. The Montreux Convention was ratified and came into effect on 9 November 1936.
