Turkey Restricts Navigation in Black Sea Amid Rising Attacks on Ships

As commercial vessels increasingly come under attack in the Black Sea due to the intensifying conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Turkish authorities have begun restricting the navigation of ships heading toward the Black Sea, Bloomberg reported on the 8th (local time).

The Turkish Coastal Safety Directorate has reportedly stopped issuing navigation permits to multiple vessels whose destination is Novorossiysk, one of Russia's major oil and grain export hubs, according to the report.

For some ships, authorities have notified operators that more time is needed to review permit applications, though no specific explanations were provided regarding the delays, the report added.

Similar restrictions are reportedly being applied to vessels heading toward Ukraine.

The route encompassing the Dardanelles Strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus Strait, entirely surrounded by Turkish territory, serves as the sole maritime passage connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.

This measure is believed to be a response to an incident on the 3rd, when two Turkish commercial vessels departing from Novorossiysk were attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs / drones), leaving several crew members injured, including Turkish nationals.

At the time, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Despite our warnings, we are deeply concerned that the war between Russia and Ukraine is expanding into the Black Sea and affecting civilian vessels." It pointed out that "if preventative measures are not taken, the escalation of tensions in the Black Sea will lead to negative consequences across multiple areas, including food security."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.