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Maritime Blog
Freight, routes, regulation and the latest from Turkish ports. Sources are listed in every article.
Turkish Shipyards in 2026: Exports Head for a Record as New Orders Slow
The ship and yacht sector set a record of $2.24 billion in 2025 and reached $1.5 billion in the first half of 2026. The industry warns of a lack of new orders for 2027–2028.
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Schedule Reliability Falls to 49.9%: Planning Shipments Around Delays
In August 2026 only half of ships arrived on time; late vessels were delayed by 6.81 days on average. Maersk was the most reliable carrier (67.3%), Gemini the most reliable alliance.
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Container Ship Orders Hit a Record: Is Overcapacity Coming in 2027–2028?
In July 2026 the orderbook stood at 1,712 ships and 13.72 million TEU, more than 40% of the existing fleet. Most deliveries are due in 2027–2028.
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Middle Corridor 2026: China–Europe Cargo via the Caspian Is Growing
According to the Organization of Turkic States, 4.7 million tonnes moved on the Middle Corridor in 2025, with about 10% growth expected in 2026. The BTK railway has a capacity of about 5 million tonnes a year.
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The Development Road Project: A New Trade Corridor from the Gulf to Turkey
Turkey and Iraq reached an agreement on the Ovakoy–Fishkhabour link of the Development Road. Minister Uraloglu said the aim is to break ground in 2026.
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Panama Canal Eases After the Drought: 49-Foot Draft and 33 Daily Transits
With May–August rainfall 34% below average, the canal imposed restrictions. At the end of September the draft was raised to 49 feet; from 15 October daily capacity is 33 transits.
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Turkish Straits Transit Fee 2026: $6.70 per Net Ton
The fee charged to ships passing the Turkish Straits without calling at a port rose to $6.70 per net ton on 1 July 2026. Between 1983 and 2022 it was $0.80.
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Turkish Straits in H1 2026: 40,218 Ship Transits, Led by General Cargo Ships
In January–June 2026, 40,218 ships passed through the Turkish Straits: 19,277 through the Bosphorus and 20,941 through the Dardanelles. 13,127 were general cargo ships, 5,188 container ships.
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Turkish Ports Handled 412.1 Million Tonnes in Nine Months: January–September 2026
Turkish ports handled 412.1 million tonnes of cargo in January–September 2026. Container handling rose 2.7% to 10.77 million TEU; growth in September was 7.6%.
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IMO Net-Zero Framework: Decision Pushed to December 2026
The global shipping carbon pricing rule was postponed in October 2025. September 2026 talks also ended without agreement; the adjourned session is planned to resume on 4 December 2026.
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Mediterranean ECA: How the 0.10% Sulphur Limit Affects Ships and Freight
The Mediterranean has been a sulphur emission control area since 1 May 2025. Ships must use 0.10% sulphur fuel instead of the global 0.50%, or operate a scrubber.
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EU ETS in Shipping Reaches 100% in 2026: Carbon Costs on Turkey–EU Voyages
Coverage rose from 40% in 2024 and 70% in 2025 to 100% for 2026 emissions. On voyages between Turkey and EU ports, half of the emissions are covered.
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Strait of Hormuz Latest: Attacks Rose in October 2026, Two Ships Sank
21 attacks were recorded in the region between 1 and 15 October; GFS Pride and Cape Dao sank. According to Windward, daily transits ranged from 6 to 18, against a pre-crisis average of 138.
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Container Freight Rates in October 2026: Drewry Index at a 15-Week High
Drewry’s WCI reached $4,585 per 40ft container on 22 October, its highest level in 15 weeks. Shanghai–Genoa rates rose 5% week on week.
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Return to Suez: When Will Container Lines Fully Come Back to the Red Sea?
In early October about 753,000 TEU per week passed through Suez, against 1.46 million TEU in 2023. Analysts expect a full return in the first quarter of 2027.
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