Pollution fines at Turkish ports and Straits have been increased with effect from January 2015.
The Turkish authorities are very sensitive and aggressive on all issues concerning water pollution in the country's territorial waters.
For this reason, vessels are asked you to refrain 100% from disposing any sort of any waters (no matter how clean it is considered) when in Turkish ports, at anchorage or transiting the Turkish waters.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Kitchen water
- Food stuff
- Bilge water
- Cargo cleaning water
- Toilet water
- Deck cleaning water
- Filtered and recycled water
Fines for such disposals can reach amounts up to USD 300,000 or more.
There are constantly undercover patrol boats, and informants with any possible reason to fine vessels are taken seriously. Environment protection agency officials take samples and photos of vessels disposing water before boarding the vessel and taking samples to compare with water taken as evidence from the sea. Samples and pictures/film enable them arrest the vessel until the fine is paid. Non-payment of the fine will result in the vessel remainng arrested until payment. Letter of guarantee or promisory notes are not accepted.
For information about operations in Turkey contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com