TURKISH STRAITS REPORTING SYSTEM

GENERAL
Introduction
The Turkish Straits VTS has been established in accordance with applicable national and international rules and regulations in
order to improve the safety of navigation, protection of life, property and environment in the Turkish Straits by using the latest
technology. This User’s Guide has been prepared in order to enhance the safety of navigation, life and property of vessels
navigating, anchoring, berthing, unberthing within the TSVTS area stated in its content and to protect the marine
environment and structures located at sea from the negative effect of marine traffic and prepared in order to determine the
procedures and bases that they will be responsible of and provide the information needed by considering the efficiency of
maritime traffic. This Guide is to be used by taking the Turkish Straits Maritime Traffic Regulations into account as
promulgated in 23515 numbered and 06 November 1998 dated Official Gazette.

Operation
The TSVTS shall be operated in accordance with the Turkish Straits Maritime Traffic Regulations, as promulgated in the
23515 numbered and 6 November 1998 dated Official Gazette and Regulation related with Establishment and Operation of
Vessel Traffic Services promulgated in the 26438 numbered and 18 February 2007 dated Official Gazette by taking the IMO
Resolutions A.857 (20) and A.827 (19) into account.

Competent Authority
Minister of Transport.

Administration
Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs.

TSVTS Authority
Director General of Coastal Safety.

Services Provided
The services provided by TSVTS have been determined by taking the related IALA resolutions and recommendations into
account and TSVTS provides the Information Service, Navigational Assistance Service and Traffic Organization Service in
compliance with IMO Resolutions A.857(20) and A.827(19), Regulation related with Establishment and Operation of Vessel
Traffic Services and requirements for quality management standards TS EN ISO 9001:2000.

Service Area
The TSVTS covers the area indicated in figures no. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Active Participant Vessels

Except of local traffic vessels, all vessels carrying dangerous cargo and vessels 20 meters in length or over, whatever
purpose, shall be designated as “Active Participant” vessels within the TSVTS area. These vessels shall comply with TUBRAP
reporting system prepared in accordance with the international legislation (IMO A.851 (20) numbered resolution).

Passive Participant Vessels

Vessels less than 20 meters in length and local traffic vessels within the TSVTS area, for whatever purpose, shall be
designated as “Passive Participant” vessels.
Passive participant vessels do not do active reporting; however these vessels must listen continuously VHF channel of their
own sector and obey the instructions given by the TSVTS within the TSVTS Area.
At the extend of legislation applied by the related authority, vessels which are not required to carry VHF are described as non
participant vessels.

Caution
Within the TSVTS system, an ENC prepared based upon WGS 84 datum is used. Participants using charts of a different
datum should make the necessary datum corrections for the positions given by the TSVTS in latitudes and longitudes.

TURKISH STRAITS REPORTING SYSTEM

Traffic Separation Scheme
The limits of the traffic separation scheme as established in accordance with Rule 10 of the Convention on the COLREG and
adopted by the IMO for the Turkish Straits and their approaches are shown below:

Northern Limits: Southern Limits:

41˚ 16΄ N / 028˚ 55΄ E 40˚ 05΄ N / 026˚ 11΄ E
41˚ 21΄ N / 028˚ 55΄ E 40˚ 02΄ N / 025˚ 55΄ E
41˚ 21΄ N / 029˚ 16΄ E 39˚ 50΄ N / 025˚ 53΄ E
41˚ 14΄ N / 029˚ 16΄ E 39˚ 44΄ N / 025˚ 55΄ E
39˚ 44΄ N / 026˚ 09΄ E
The area connecting the positions. The area connecting the positions.
SP 1 Report
Masters, owners or agents of the vessels carrying dangerous cargo or the vessels those are 500 GT and above should submit
a written Sailing Plan 1(SP-1) to the relevant VTS Centers at least 24 hours prior to entry into the Turkish Straits. Masters,
owners or agents of the vessels those are between LOA 200-300m and/or vessels with a draft over 15m should submit a
written Sailing Plan 1(SP-1) at least 48 hours prior to entrance.

Owners , operators or agents of vessels that are LOA 300 m or more , vessels that are propelled by nuclear power and
vessels carrying nuclear cargo or nuclear waste shall provide information regarding their characteristics and cargo to the
Administration during the planning stage of the voyage provided that not being less than 72 hours. They shall submit the
documents issued by the flag state in order to prove that vessel is complied with the IMO standards and regulations arranged
by other related international agreement and cargo are carried appropriately. The Administration, based upon to these data
related with vessels, shall inform the relevant vessel’s owner, agent, operator or master in order to provide the necessary
conditions for the safe passage through Turkish Straits by considering all specifications of the vessels including the
dimensions and maneuvering capabilities, the morphological and physical structure of the Turkish Straits, the condition of the
season, safety of navigation, life, property and environment and situation of maritime traffic. Those vessels mentioned which
possess the necessary conditions for passage submits a SP 1 at least 72 hours in advance.

Vessels carrying dangerous cargo and/or vessels 500 GT and above, about to depart from ports in the Sea of Marmara, shall
submit sailing plan SP 1 Report to the relevant VTSC at least 6 hours prior to their departure. All TUBRAP reports should be
sent to the VTSC timely and accurately.

The SP 1 report has great importance to effective traffic management. As vessels that do not send SP 1 report timely
may cause congestion of marine traffic, delays and waiting, they may be excluded from the daily traffic plan.

SP 1 report should be sent via your Agent to the Istanbul and Canakkale VTSC.

SP 2 Report
Except warships, state-owned vessels not used for commercial purposes and local traffic vessels, ship masters who declared
that their vessels are technically suitable on his SP1 report and masters of vessels LOA 20 meters or more shall submit SP2
report to the relevant VTS via VHF channel designated 2 hours or 20 miles (whichever comes first) prior to entry into the
Istanbul or Çanakkale Straits.

After having submitted the SP 2 Report, vessels shall act by taking into account information provided by the relevant VTS and
shall record in the ship’s log that they have submitted SP 2 Report and all information received regarding strait traffic.
The SP 2 report shall be submitted to the concerned sector of the relevant VTS area where the ship will enter into.

VTS NAME NORTH ENTRANCE VHF SOUTH ENTRANCE VHF

İSTANBUL SECTÖR TÜRKELİ CH 11 SECTÖR MARMARA CH 14
*SECTOR KADIKÖY CH 13
ÇANAKKALE SECTOR GELİBOLU CH 11 SECTOR KUMKALE CH 13
*For vessels which will make their first contact with Sector Kadıköy as per their approach
direction

SP 2 REPORT FORM
Code Meaning
A SHIP’S NAME / CALL SIGN / FLAG / IMO NO / MMSI NO
F MAXIMUM MANOEUVRING SPEED
G PORT OF DEPARTURE
H TIME TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE STRAIT
I PORT OF DESTINATION
REQUEST PILOT (YES OR NO)
ISTANBUL STRAIT
J
MARMARA SEA
ÇANAKKALE STRAIT
P DANGEROUS CARGO (IF HAVE)
*T SHIP’S AGENT / REPRESENTATIVE
Q DEFECTS/DAMAGE/DEFICIENCIES/OTHER LIMITATING REASONS
X WHETHER READY FOR THE PASSAGE OF STRAIT
*For the vessels/boats do not obliged to submit SP1 but just SP2

If vessels will wait for any reason they should notify it on their SP2 report. After they inform the relevant VTS that they
are ready for the passage of Strait, they are accepted for the traffic organization.

Position Report
Vessels LOA 20 meters and over that will enter the Straits of Istanbul and Çanakkale, up to 5 nautical miles from the
entrances of t h e Strait, shall provide a Position Report containing information identifying themselves to the relevant VTS
sector via VHF.

POSITION REPORT FORM

Code Meaning
A SHIP’S NAME
D POSITION

Call Point Report

Active Participant vessels which will pass through Istanbul and/or Çanakkale Straits, at the entrance, exit and sector passage
to the VTS area covering Strait is to be passed; Active Participant vessels which will not pass through Istanbul and/or
Canakkale Strait but will pass from VTS area in Black Sea and Aegean Sea; should submit call point report via VHF at the
entrance and exit of area.

CALL POINT REPORT FORM

Code Meaning
A SHIP’S NAME
D POSITION (DEPARTED AND INCLUDED SECTOR)

Marmara Report (MARRAP)

# Active participant vessels which will pass through TSVTS area and navigating between Marmara Ports shall submit
MARRAP to both their exit and entrance sector at the Sector Gelibolu-Sector Marmara and Sector Marmara- Sector Gelibolu
passage with the sector that they entered to the TSVTS area;
# If Vessels departed from a port in Marmara and will pass through the Strait , enter to another VTS area before the VTS area
covering the Strait that they will pass shall submit MARRAP to the sector entered via VHF.

MARMARA REPORT (MARRAP) FORM

Code Meaning
A SHIP’S NAME
D POSITION
G PORT OF DEPARTURE
I PORT OF ARRIVAL
P WHETHER DANGEROUS CARGO IS ON BOARD

COMMUNICATION
The communication language of the TSVTS is English and SMCP shall be used in order to ensure
an accurate communication.
TSVTS shall operate in VHF channels 11, 12, 13 and 14.

Sectors And VHF Channels

Figure 1 : Turkish Straits Vessel Traffic Service (TSVTS) Area and Sectors
ISTANBUL VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE
The sectors of Istanbul VTS and designated VHF working channels are in the following order from north to south.
SECTOR NAME WORKING CHANNEL CALL SIGN
TÜRKELİ VHF Channel 11 SECTOR TÜRKELİ
KANDİLLİ VHF Channel 12 SECTOR KANDİLLİ
KADIKÖY VHF Channel 13 SECTOR KADIKÖY
MARMARA VHF Channel 14 SECTOR MARMARA
The northern limits of the Istanbul VTS are the line connecting the following positions.
A : 41 10.5’ N / 029 35’ E
B : 41 32.5’ N / 029 35’ E
C : 41 32.5’ N / 028 45’ E
D : 41 19.0’ N / 028 45’ E
The southern limits of the Istanbul VTS are the lines connecting the following positions.
A: 40 52.5’ N / 029 13.8’ E
B: 40 48.5’ N / 029 09.0’ E
C: 40 39.9’ N / 029 09.0’ E
D: 40 41.0’ N / 028 10.0’ E
E: 40 51.6’ N / 028 10.0’ E
F: 40 55.1’ N / 028 43.4’ E
G: 40 58.2’ N / 028 43.4’ E

Figure 2 : Istanbul Vessel Traffic Service Area and Sectors

Sector Türkeli
The northern limit of this sector is the northern limit of the Istanbul VTS.
The southern limit of this sector is the line connecting Anadolu Kavağı at ( 41 10.71 N / 29 05.19 E ) and Dikilitaş Light ( 41
10.97 N / 29 04.73 E ).

Sector Kandilli
The northern limit of this sector is the southern limit of sector Türkeli.
The southern limit of this sector is the Boğaziçi Bridge.
Sector Kadiköy
The northern limit of this sector is the southern limit of Sector Kandilli ( Boğaziçi Bridge ).
The southern limit of this sector is the line connecting the following positions.
A: 40 52.5’ N / 029 13.8’ E
B: 40 48.5’ N / 029 09.0’ E
C: 40 50.3’ N / 028 52.0’ E
D: 40 55.1’ N / 028 43.4’ E
E: 40 58.2’ N / 028 43.4’ E

Sector Marmara
The northern and eastern limits of this sector is the line connecting the following positions.
A: 40 55.1’ N / 028 43.4’ E
B: 40 50.3’ N / 028 52.0’ E
C: 40 48.5’ N / 029 09.0’ E
D: 40 39.9’ N / 029 09.0’ E
Western limit of this sector is the line connecting the following positions.
A: 40 41.0’ N /028 10.0’ E
B: 40 51.6’ N /028 10.0’ E

Figure 3 : Sector Marmara

ÇANAKKALE VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICE
The sectors of Çanakkale VTS and designated VHF working channels are in the following order from north to south.
SECTOR NAME WORKING CHANNEL CALL SIGN
GELİBOLU VHF Channel 11 SECTOR GELİBOLU
NARA VHF Channel 12 SECTOR NARA
KUMKALE VHF Channel 13 SECTOR KUMKALE
The northern limits of the Çanakkale VTS is a line connecting the following positions.
A: 40 42.3’ N / 027 18.5’ E (Hoşköy Br.)
B: 40 48.0’ N / 027 38.0’ E
C: 40 51.6’ N / 028 10.0’ E
D: 40 41.0’ N / 028 10.0’ E
E: 40 41.7’ N / 027 38.5’ E
F: 40 39.0’ N / 027 29.4’ E (Hayırsız ada)
G: 40 28.6’ N / 027 17.0’ E (Karaburun)
The southern limits of the Çanakkale VTS is the line connecting the following positions and/or following the shoreline.
A: 39 44.0’N / 026 09.2’ E
B: 39 44.0’N / 025 55.0’ E
C: 39 52.6’N / 025 47.0’ E
D: 40 06.0’N / 025 47.0’ E
E: 40 09.0’N / 026 00.9’ E
F: 40 09.0’N / 026 14.2’ E

Figure 4 : Canakkale Vessel Traffic Service Area and Sectors

Sector Gelibolu
The northern limit of this sector is the northern limit of Çanakkale VTS
The southern limit of this sector is the line joining the following positions.
A: 40 21.56’ N / 026 37.65’ E
B: 40 20.15’ N / 026 39.75’ E

Sector Nara
The northern limit of this sector is the southern limit of sector Gelibolu.
The southern limit of this sector is the line joining the following positions.
A: 40 06.8’ N / 026 20.2’ E
B: 40 05.7’ N / 026 21.75’ E

Sector Kumkale
The northern limit of this sector is the southern limit of sector Nara.
The southern limit of this sector is the southern limit of the Çanakkale VTS.

PROCEDURES FOR SHIPS

In General
-SP 1 shall be given to the relevant VTSC in accordance with the TUBRAP.
-SP 2 shall be given to the relevant VTSC in accordance with the TUBRAP.
-Marmara Report ( MARRAP ) shall be given.
-Call Point Report shall be given to the relevant VTSC.
-AIS device should always be kept in working order within the TSVTS area
-VHF channel of the current sector should be listened during navigating or anchorage within the TSVTS area.
-Vessels navigating within the Turkish Straits should continuously monitor all TSVTS broadcasts and information,
recommendations, warnings and instructions given by the TSVTS should be taken into account in terms of safety of
navigation, protection of life and of the environment.
-Vessels navigating within the Turkish Straits should report all perils observed related with safety of navigation to the VTS
Centers.
-All stopover or non- stopover vessels navigating within the TSS through the Marmara Sea should report to the relevant VTSC
about berthing or mooring to buoys, dropping anchor, turning back or emergencies and similar exceptional circumstances ,in
case of any deviation from the TSS and any delays on their ETA’s exceeding 2 hours .
-All communications concerned with pilotage service should be performed via VHF Channel 71.
For safety of navigation, protection of life and of the environment, pilotage is strongly recommended to all vessels
intending to engage in non-stopover passage through the Turkish Straits. (IMO Res. A.827 (19))

Anchorage Areas
Anchorage areas and intended uses for İstanbul Strait are as follow:
a) Free anchorage Area of vessels which departs the port and which will stay for a long time; (Sector B)
41 00 15 N – 028 56 50 E
40 58 15 N – 028 56 50 E
40 56 82 N – 028 53 50 E
40 58 92 N – 028 53 50 E
b) Free anchorage Area of vessels carrying dangerous cargo; (Sector C)
40 58 92 N – 028 53 50 E
40 56 82 N – 028 53 50 E
40 56 12 N – 028 51 95 E
40 55 88 N – 028 50 00 E
40 57 48 N – 028 50 00 E
c) Quarantine Anchorage Area;
40 57 54 N – 028 48 70 E
40 56 10 N – 028 48 70 E
40 56 40 N – 028 47 40 E
40 58 23 N – 028 47 40 E
d) Küçükçekmece Anchorage Area;
40 58 32 N – 028 43 50 E
40 56 90 N – 028 43 50 E
40 56 40 N – 028 47 40 E
40 58 23 N – 028 47 40 E
e) Kartal Anchorage Area;
40 53 20 N – 029 11 10 E
40 52 55 N – 029 09 55 E
40 51 00 N – 029 10 30 E
40 51 40 N – 029 12 00 E
40 52 60 N – 029 13 40 E
It is territorial water specified by coordinates; vessels not carrying hazardous cargoes and departed from Marmara Sea and
the ports of İzmit Gulf will pass through Istanbul Strait and the vessels not carrying hazardous cargoes and navigating at
cabotage line can anchor at this area by the permission of VTS Center.
If the vessels anchored at this area stay at anchor more than 48 hours except imperative reasons, they will be treated as
vessel arriving into port. Vessels at this situation are obliged to get permission from other related organization/institution.

f) North Entrance of Port Anchorage Areas;

1) Anchorage Area for Vessels 2) Anchorage Area for Passenger
Carrying Dangerous Cargo and Dry Cargo Vessel
41 15 40 N – 028 57 45 E 41 14 90 N – 029 00 00 E
41 17 50 N – 028 57 45 E 41 17 50 N – 029 00 00 E
41 17 50 N – 029 00 00 E 41 17 50 N – 029 02 37 E
41 14 90 N – 029 00 00 E 41 15 90 N – 029 05 00 E
41 15 00 N – 029 05 00 E

Anchorage areas and intended uses for Çanakkale Strait are as follow:
Anchorage Areas for North Entrance of Çanakkale Strait

1) Anchorage Area for Vessels Carrying:

2) Anchorage Area for Passenger
and Dry Cargo Vessels:
Dangerous Cargo
 40 37' 55N – 027 10' 00 E 40 33' 42 N – 026 59' 80 E
40 32' 65N – 027 00' 00 E 40 36' 45 N – 027 10' 00 E
40 30' 00N – 026 53' 00 E 40 32' 65 N – 027 00' 00 E
40 31' 30N – 026 52' 40 E 40 33' 42 N – 026 59' 80 E
Anchorage Area the Inner of Çanakkale Strait ( Karanlık Liman ) ( Pilotage is compulsory for anchoring and to weigh anchor in
this Anchorage area. )
40 00' 90 N – 026 15' 10 E
40 01' 70 N – 026 17' 40 E
40 03' 07 N – 026 18' 95 E
40 02' 55 N – 026 19' 80 E
40 01' 40 N – 026 18' 75 E
40 00' 30 N – 026 15' 20 E

Anchorage Areas for South Entrance of Çanakkale Strait

1) Anchorage Area for Vessels Carrying:
Dangerous Cargo
2) Anchorage Area for Passenger and
39 49' 17 N – 026 00' 00 E
Dry Cargo Vessels
39 46' 00 N – 025 57' 40 E
39 48' 10 N – 026 04' 97 E
39 46' 90 N – 025 55' 30 E
39 44' 00 N – 026 01' 90 E
39 50' 45 N – 025 53' 40 E
39 46' 00 N – 025 57' 40 E
39 54' 15 N – 025 57' 80 E
39 49' 17 N – 026 00' 00 E
39 52' 75 N – 026 00'.00 E
39 50' 40 N – 025 57' 90 E

Anchoring and Leaving the Anchorage

-Anchorage position is determined by the relevant VTSC.
-Anchored vessel should report to the relevant VTSC about her anchorage position and time.
-Masters should act according to the requirements of “Guidelines for taking a safe anchorage shift”, by force of the concerned
STCW and IMO Circular (STWC Code VIII-A.VIII/2 IMO Circ. STWC. 7 / Circ.14) while they were at anchor.
-Sector channel should be continuously listened while being at anchorage area.
-Vessel should inform the VTSC one hour prior to heave up her anchor.
-When vessel heaved up anchor, she should notify the time of heaving, arrival port and ETA for entrance of Strait to the
relevant VTSC and she should take information about maritime traffic.
-Vessels having non-stopover passage through the Turkish Straits may stay at anchor up to 48 hours without taking Free
Pratique provided that having permission from the relevant VTSC.

Berthing and Unberthing

-Vessels should notify the time of berthing to the relevant VTSC while being alongside to any port at Turkish Straits. Listening
the sector channel is not obligatory while being in port.
-Vessels leaving the pier should report their time of departure, arrival port and ETA for entrance of Strait to the relevant VTSC
and should proceed by having traffic information.

Slowing Down
Immediate notice should be given to the relevant VTS Center when a vessel has to slow down within the Istanbul and
Çanakkale Straits. The VTS Center provide information, recommendations and instructions by evaluating the traffic situation.

Overtaking
Vessels shall not overtake another vessel unless there is an absolute necessity. Vessel which is in the necessity of overtaking
other ahead vessel navigating slowly, should take permission from the relevant VTS Center. Passage permission given vessel
by the VTS Center, shall try to pass the vessel ahead within the single course.

However, the vessel will not be overtaken between Vaniköy and Kanlica in Istanbul Strait and between Nara and
Kilitbahir in Çanakkale Strait.

Reporting Accidents
An accident occurred within the TSVTS area should be immediately notified to the TSVTS in her own sector by both the
vessel(s) involved in the accident and the witness vessel(s). The TSVTS is the first contact point in terms of the necessary
precautions that can be taken and the minimization of any happened or probable loss of lives and property in the accident and
the protection of the environment.

In Case of Run Aground

Vessel running aground within the TSVTS area;
1) Immediately notify the relevant VTS Center.
2) Never make intervention to such operations like; refloating operations, ballast operation, cargo discharge/transfer, use the
engine except necessary precautions for the protection of environment and safety of life provided that not using any chemical
material, and waits information/recommendations/instructions from the relevant VTS Center. Vessel run aground is
liable to obey instructions given by the VTS Center.
3) If the master requests to salve the vessel with her own means, he/she is liable to submit salvage plan to Technical
Committee in maximum 3 hours after getting underwater survey report,
In Case of Failure
Vessel making failure within the TSVTS area;
1) Immediately gives information to relevant VTS Center.
2) In case of failure in the Traffic Separation Schemes in Marmara Sea, maximum 2 hours are given to the vessel in order to
repair herself and if she couldn’t do within the prescribed time she is liable to obey to instructions given by the relevant VTS
Center.

Reporting Incidents and Marine Pollution

If any incident occurs within the TSVTS area that may affect the safe manoeuvre capability of vessels negatively or if any
situation occur which may expose to a danger to the marine environment and surrounding areas, situation should be
immediately notified by vessel(s) to the TSVTS in order to take necessary precautions on time.

Local Marine Traffic

Ferries, conventional ferries, sea buses, passenger boats engaged in regular voyages, tankers delivery oil-bunker fuel-water
supplies to the vessels, pleasure crafts, fishing boats, agent boats, boats belongs to government, tug boats, vessels belonging
to non-governmental organizations, vessels engaged in underwater and survey operations and all other similar vessels within
the administrative zone of İstanbul Port.
All vessels that compose local marine traffic should listen current VHF channel, whether it is under SOLAS Convention or not.

Sanitary Inspections
Vessels that will pass through the Turkish Straits shall be subject to Sanitary Inspections in the places stated at Turkish Straits
Marine Traffic Regulation in accordance with the 1936 Montreux Convention.

Tele-Health
24 hours uninterrupted medical consultation service to all health problems that can be occurred at marine and air vehicles
during the navigation, medical rescue at sea and sea ambulance services are given by the Tele-Health Center.
Tele-Health Phone: 0-212- 444 83 53 MAIL : [email protected]