Vessel traffic through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits is restricted

Turkey has restricted the passage of ships through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, which provide a connection between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and therefore with the world ocean. Thus, there may be delays in the supply of goods to Russia if they are carried out to Black Sea ports.

So, yesterday, August 22, the Turkish Anadolu Agency reported that due to a forest fire in the Canakkale-Kepez area, the movement of ships in the Dardanelles Strait from south to north was temporarily stopped. As a result, ships could only pass in one direction.

However, this morning it became known that restrictions were also introduced in the opposite direction, thereby completely closing the Dardanelles Strait.

Water from the strait is used to extinguish fires, and the passage of ships prevents helicopters from taking water.

In addition, this morning the movement of ships in another strategic strait - the Bosporus Strait - was suspended. As CNN Türk reported, the passage was blocked by an oil tanker that was heading from Russia to China due to an engine breakdown. Two tugboats were sent to evacuate the ship.

Thus, due to the restrictions that have arisen, there may be delays in the supply of goods to Russia if they are carried out to the Black Sea ports, since the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits are the only ones that provide connection between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and at the same time, in principle, with the world ocean.