Black Sea civilian ship attacks prompt Turkish security measures

Turkey has begun delaying the issuance of permits and extending review periods for commercial vessels transiting the Dardanelles toward Novorossiysk. The move follows increased security threats in the Black Sea, where dozens of attacks on civilian ships—operating under various flags both at sea and in ports—were recorded during July. The disruption affects major transit corridors. While Turkish authorities are slowing approvals for ships heading to Novorossi the flow of traffic to Odessa has also ceased due to reciprocal measures taken by the Russian Federation. Ankara's current policy is driven by a need to protect its own fleet and mitigate potential legal claims from shipowners and insurers. Under the Montreux Convention, Turkey is responsible for ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea—a service for which it collects fees that are increased annually. Transit status and vessel movement Despite the delays, some vessels continue to reach Russian ports. Tracking data indicates that on August 9, the Greek-flagged oil tanker Aegean Dream passed through the Dardanelles after waiting for clearance since Thursday. The vessel is bound for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in Novorossiysk to load Kazakh oil. On the same day, the Turkish-flagged container ship Mehmet Kahveci, manned by a Turkish crew, also transited toward Novorossiysk.