Türkiye halts shipping through Bosporus due to heavy fog

Maritime traffic through the Bosporus Strait, which divides Istanbul into its European and Asian sides, has been temporarily suspended due to dense fog.

Türkiye's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed the closure, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

According to the Ministry, maritime traffic through the Istanbul Strait has been temporarily suspended in both directions due to limited visibility and fog.

The Bosphorus is a natural strait in Istanbul that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, acting as the only maritime corridor linking the Black Sea region with the global oceans.

Stretching approximately 30 km in length, the strait narrows to about 750–800 m at its tightest point between historic fortifications, with varying depths, strong currents, and numerous sharp turns that make navigation particularly challenging.

Over 40,000 vessels transit the strait annually—ranging from oil tankers and commercial cargo ships to local ferries and fishing boats—making it one of the busiest and strategically vital waterways in the world.

By Jeyhun Aghazada