Number of vessels at Istanbul Strait drops after Baku-Ceyhan pipeline

ANKARA- According to figures of Istanbul Environment & Urbanization Directorate, the number of vessels which passed by Istanbul Strait dropped to 49,798 in 2011.

There are four big marinas (Atakoy, SETUR, Buyukcekmece and Pendik), Tuzla Shipyard Zone (comprised of 45 shipyards), and two container ports in Istanbul. 

Istanbul Strait is the most dangerous strait of the world due its geographical features.

In 1936, the date Montreux Convention was signed, 4,500 vessels were using Istanbul Strait, which reached nearly 50,000 today.

In the past ten years, 1.4 billion tons of cargo have been carried by 521,000 vessels in Istanbul Strait.

After Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline was opened in 2006, the number of vessels dropped. 54,880 vessels used Istanbul Strait in 2006, while it dropped to 49,798 in 2011.

Last year, 138.4 million tons of cargo -especially oil- was carried by tankers in 2011.