On Friday, 19th June 2026, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said that Turkey will increase transit fees for vessels passing through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits by 15% from 1 July, as part of its annual tariff revision policy. The new rate, which had been previously reported by media, citing a letter from Turkey’s General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, will rise to approximately USD 6.70 per net ton, compared with the current USD 5.83.
Mr. Uraloglu said vessels passing through the waterways without stopping at Turkish ports are charged under three categories in line with the Montreux Convention: health inspection, lighthouse and salvage services.
The fee adjustments follow Turkey’s decision in 2022 to revise the calculation method linked to the “gold franc” value under the Montreux Convention, after nearly four decades of unchanged rates.
The Turkish Straits remain among the world’s most strategically important maritime passages, connecting the Black Sea with the Mediterranean. The increased charges are expected to have an impact on vessel operating costs, particularly for tankers and bulk carriers using this route.
For the shipping industry, the development highlights the growing importance of monitoring regulatory changes affecting key global maritime chokepoints.