Bosphorus – Turkey

Linking the Black Sea with the Mediterranean through the heart of Istanbul — one of the world’s busiest and most demanding waterways, where every transit is governed by the Montreux Convention and the Turkish Straits traffic scheme.

Local Operational Partner

Marti Shipping Agency S.A.

Established in 1980, Marti Shipping Agency S.A. is one of Turkey's well-established independent shipping agencies, providing maritime services at Turkish ports and through the Turkish Straits.

With headquarters in Istanbul and a nationwide operational network, Marti serves shipowners, operators, charterers and global trading companies — decades of experience combined with extensive local knowledge.

1980 Established
1,000+ Tramp port calls a year
250+ Turkish Straits transits a year

Services via CANAL PASS

Through our partnership with Marti Shipping Agency, CANAL PASS coordinates the following across the Turkish coastline and the Turkish Straits.

Turkish Straits Transit Agency Bosphorus and Dardanelles transit handling and reporting.
Port Agency at all Turkish ports Full port-call handling, centrally coordinated from Istanbul.
Protecting Agency Services Owners' interests represented alongside the charterers' agent.
Husbandry Services Day-to-day attendance on owners' behalf while the vessel is in port.
Crew Change Coordination Sign-on and sign-off, transfers, visas and repatriation arrangements.
Bunkering Arrangements Bunker enquiries, nominations and delivery supervision.
Technical Attendance Repairs, spares and service-engineer attendance in port.
Cargo Operations Support Loading and discharge supervision across tanker, bulk and breakbulk.
Container Logistics & Depot Depot handling, inland moves and container services.
Warehousing & Inland Transport Storage and onward transport within Turkey.
Project Cargo Coordination Heavy, oversized and out-of-gauge cargo handling.
Chartering Support Commercial support for fixtures and voyage planning.

CANAL PASS remains the central point of coordination and communication — Marti executes locally across one of the world's busiest maritime regions.

Operational Coverage/Ports

8 ports

Istanbul Canal transit

Ambarli, Haydarpasa, Tuzla, Pendik & Turkish Straits

Izmit Bay

Izmir & Aliaga

Gemlik

Mersin

Iskenderun

Ceyhan

Botas

Plan your Bosphorus transit

Talk to our Bosphorus coordination desk.

Pre-arrival reporting, pilotage and tug arrangements, and continuous monitoring from approach to clear of the strait.

News and Updates

October 22, 2026

Welcome to Bosphorus News & Updates

This is where you will find the latest news and operational updates for the Turkish Straits — the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles — posted directly by our agents…