Turkish port authorities are unofficially requiring shipping agents to provide documentation confirming that vessels are not linked to Israel and are not transporting military or hazardous cargo bound for the country.
The step marks a further measure by Turkey against Israel, following its decision last year to halt $7 billion in annual trade with the country.
According to Reuters, the Harbour Master’s office verbally instructed port agents to submit written assurances, while clarifying that no official circular had been issued.
The directive is reportedly applicable across all Turkish ports.
Vessels arriving directly from Israel, or departing for Israeli ports, would no longer be allowed to dock in Turkey, according to information provided by the port authority of the northwestern province of Kocaeli.
The measure could add further strain to shipments bound for Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Since 2023, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have attacked vessels in the Red Sea, describing their actions as solidarity with the Palestinians.
Earlier this summer, it was reported that the Iran-Israel conflict triggered a sharp rise in shipping insurance costs for vessels navigating the Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
