Turkey restricts tanker passage through the Dardanelles toward Novorossiysk

Turkish authorities have begun restricting the passage of vessels bound for the Russian port of Novorossiysk through the Dardanelles Strait — either withholding transit permits altogether or dragging out the review of applications for extended periods. The news, based on sources familiar with the matter, was reported by Bloomberg. Turkish officials have so far offered no official explanation for the move.

The decision comes amid a rise in attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea, including ships belonging to Turkish companies. This week, drone strikes on two Turkish vessels left several crew members injured, including Turkish nationals. Following the incidents, Ankara called on both Russia and Ukraine to take concrete steps to ensure the safety of shipping.

What this means for global markets

The restriction could have ripple effects on global oil and grain trade. Novorossiysk is one of Russia's key export ports, and the Black Sea remains a strategically vital transport corridor for these shipments.

The situation is further complicated by disruptions to oil supplies already caused by the war in Iran and shipping restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz. Concerns over grain exports from the Black Sea region pushed wheat prices to a two-year high back in July.

According to vessel tracking data, however, ships bound for Bulgarian and Turkish ports were still passing through the strait on Saturday afternoon. This suggests that, based on available information, the restrictions do not apply to all merchant shipping in the Black Sea, but primarily to routes linked to the Russian port.

Source: novinky.cz