Türkiye resumes Black Sea ship transit after security-related delays

Türkiye has resumed allowing commercial vessels to pass through its straits into the Black Sea following unexplained delays for some ships amid heightened security concerns in the region, Bloomberg reports.

The crude oil tanker Aegean Dream entered the Dardanelles on August 9 after waiting in the area since August 6, according to ship-tracking data. The vessel was indicating the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in Novorossiysk, Russia, as its destination.

The container ship Mehmet Kahveci A also passed through the strait early on August 9, with Novorossiysk listed as its destination.

The resumption of traffic follows reports that Türkiye had begun restricting commercial shipping into the Black Sea amid growing concerns over attacks on civilian vessels linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The delays had raised concerns among shipping operators over the potential impact of increased security measures on maritime trade through the Turkish Straits, a key route connecting the Mediterranean with the Black Sea.

By Sabina Mammadli