Overview
Turkey has imposed a restriction on commercial shipping entering the Black Sea via the Dardanelles Strait, citing heightened security concerns after recent attacks on vessels in the region. The Directorate General of Coastal Safety has either held back transit permits or delayed the review of applications for multiple ships destined for Russia’s key oil and grain export hub of Novorossiysk, as well as for vessels heading to Ukraine. No formal explanation has been provided by Turkish authorities, and the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry did not respond to inquiries made outside regular business hours.
The restrictions come after Turkey’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that several crew members, including Turkish nationals, were injured in drone strikes on two Turkish‑owned ships earlier in the week. Ankara has called on the warring parties to adopt urgent measures to safeguard navigation in the Black Sea.
Bloomberg’s ship‑tracking data indicate that vessels bound for Turkish or Bulgarian ports continue to pass north through the Dardanelles without impediment, suggesting the curbs are targeted specifically at traffic destined for Russia and Ukraine.
Potential Impact
Analysts note that the curtailment of maritime traffic could add further strain to global energy and agricultural supply chains already under pressure from broader geopolitical tensions, such as Middle‑East oil supply disruptions and rising international grain prices.