Turkey restricts ship movement in the Black Sea

Turkey has restricted the movement of ships in the Black Sea. The restriction is due to an increase in attacks on ships by Russia and Ukraine in the region, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.

The Coast Guard General Directorate said that several ships heading to the Russian port of Novorossiysk were not granted transit permits. In other cases, the processing time for applications to pass through the Dardanelles Strait is being extended. Novorossiysk is an important hub for oil and grain exports.

The sources said that the authorities did not give an official comment on the decision. The restriction effectively reduces the flow of ships into the Black Sea. Ankara has called for increased security due to a recent increase in attacks on commercial vessels, including Turkish ones, in the region.

The Coast Guard General Directorate referred questions to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in Ankara, but the ministry did not respond to requests sent after business hours. Earlier this week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry reported that two Turkish ships had been attacked by drones. Crew members, including Turkish citizens, were injured in the attack.

The ministry said in a statement: “We once again call on all relevant parties, especially the warring parties, to take urgent measures to ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.”

It also noted that the escalation of the situation would negatively affect food security and other sectors. Sources said that the restrictions also apply to ships bound for Ukraine.

The decision could create new problems for world trade. Currently, there are disruptions in oil supplies due to the war in Iran and a decrease in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, concerns have grown about grain supplies from the Black Sea region. This situation led to a rise in wheat prices to their highest level in two years in July.

According to information collected by Bloomberg, ships bound for Bulgarian or Turkish ports continue to move north through the Dardanelles Strait.