From 1 July 2026, commercial ships passing through the Turkish Straits without calling at any Turkish port pay $6.70 per net ton. In the previous period the fee was $5.83, an increase of about 15%.
The legal basis: Montreux
The transit regime of the Turkish Straits is set by the 1936 Montreux Convention. Under the convention, merchant ships pass freely in peacetime; Turkey may only charge fees for certain services:
- Sanitary control
- Lighthouse services
- Rescue (lifesaving) services
These fees are defined in the convention in gold francs. According to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the fees are updated every year on 1 July within the rights recognised by Montreux.
History
| Period | Fee per net ton |
|---|---|
| 1983 – 7 October 2022 | $0.80 |
| October 2022 | $4.08 |
| 2023 | $4.42 |
| 2024 | $5.07 |
| 2025 | $5.83 |
| 1 July 2026 | $6.70 |
The ministry had said it expected about $254 million in revenue from straits transits for the period 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026.
How is it calculated?
The basis of the fee is net tonnage (NT / NRT), the volume of a ship’s cargo and passenger spaces (see our Shipping Glossary). Roughly:
Transit fee ≈ ship’s net tonnage × fee per net ton
The exact amount depends on the type of ship, the direction and number of passages and the services received. Ask your agent for a detailed cost estimate (proforma) for each passage.
State fee versus agency fee
The $6.70 in this article is the transit fee paid to the state. Services such as pilotage and tugs, as well as the agency fee, are paid separately. Agency fees are also usually tiered by the ship’s net tonnage.
Frequently asked questions
Which ships does the $6.70 apply to?
International merchant ships passing through the Turkish Straits without calling at any Turkish port.
When will the fee change again?
The fees are updated every year on 1 July. The next update is expected on 1 July 2027.
Sources
- Sabah: Minister Uraloglu announced the Turkish Straits transit fee will be $6.70 from 1 July (in Turkish)
- Ekonomist: Straits transit fee to be $6.70 on 1 July (in Turkish)
- Sözcü: Turkish Straits transit fee to rise from 1 July (in Turkish)
This article is based on sources published up to 26 October 2026.