Turkey has announced a new restriction on commercial ship traffic into the Black Sea, following a rise in Russian and Ukrainian attacks on vessels.
The Directorate General of Coastal Safety has told ships bound for Russia’s Novorossiysk, a major oil and grain hub, that it is not issuing transit permits for voyages through the Dardanelles Strait at present. They are also reviewing existing applications, but no timeline has been given.
Officials have not released a formal explanation for the decision. The information comes from sources who asked to remain anonymous because the move has not been made public.
The restriction effectively cuts off the flow of vessels into the Black Sea, where attacks on commercial shipping—including those owned by Turkey— have increased. Ankara has repeatedly called for stronger security measures in the region.
The Directorate General of Coastal Safety reached out to the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry in Ankara for clarification. The ministry did not respond to emails or phone calls outside normal business hours.
Earlier this week, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a group of crew members, some of whom were Turkish citizens, were injured when drones struck two Turkish-owned vessels. The ministry urged all parties, especially the warring sides, to take concrete steps to protect navigation in the Black Sea.
Sources also say that the restriction now applies to ships heading to Ukraine, although some vessels are still allowed to travel to Bulgarian or Turkish ports via the Dardanelles.
The new rule adds complexity to global trade, at a time when oil shipments are already being hampered by the war in Iran and lower volumes through the Strait of Hormuz. The growing attacks in the Black Sea threaten grain supplies and have pushed wheat prices to a two‑year high in July.
Ship‑tracking data shows that as of 1 p.m. local time, vessels bound for Bulgarian or Turkish ports were still moving north through the Dardanelles.
The situation remains fluid, and the international community watches closely as the Turkish government balances security concerns with the need to keep trade routes open.