Media: Türkiye restricts commercial ship traffic to Black Sea

Türkiye has begun restricting commercial ship traffic into the Black Sea amid growing concerns over attacks on civilian vessels by Russia and Ukraine, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Directorate General of Coastal Safety has reportedly informed several ships bound for Russia’s Novorossiysk port that transit permits are not currently being issued for such voyages or that applications submitted through the Dardanelles Strait require additional review.

Novorossiysk is one of Russia’s main export hubs for oil and grain.

According to the people familiar with the matter, the restrictions were introduced following a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, including ships owned by Turkish companies.

Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry earlier confirmed that drones attacked two Turkish civilian vessels, Yasar and Nadezhda, on August 3.

By Sabina Mammadli