Turkey has officially resumed issuing permits for the passage of commercial vessels through its straits towards the Black Sea. This decision was made after several days of uncertainty and delays caused by the escalation of the security situation in the region. The resumption of navigation signals that Ankara has found a temporary compromise regarding the protection of civilian shipping.
First vessels pass through the straits
According to maritime vessel tracking systems, movement resumed on Sunday, August 9, 2026. The first large vessel to enter the Dardanelles Strait was the oil tanker 'Aegean Dream'. The vessel had been waiting for permission since Thursday but was only able to begin moving after the restrictions were lifted. Its final destination is the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
That same morning, the container ship 'Mehmet Kahveci A' also successfully crossed the strait, also heading to Novorossiysk. These events confirm that the logistics chains connecting the Mediterranean Sea with Black Sea ports are beginning to recover.
Reasons for the temporary halt and Ankara's position
Previously, Turkey's General Directorate of Coast Guard informed vessels heading to ports in Ukraine and Russia about a temporary suspension of transit permits. Official representatives of the Turkish Ministry of Transport did not provide detailed explanations for this step at the time of its introduction, however, the delays coincided with a sharp increase in concern regarding the safety of civilian shipping.
In recent times, attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea have become more frequent, including those sailing under the Turkish flag or owned by Turkish companies. In this regard, Ankara has proposed that the parties to the conflict temporarily cease attacks on the civilian fleet. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that the country has appealed to Ukraine and the Russian Federation to impose restrictions on attacks in the Black Sea area.
Diplomatic efforts and international context
According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, the country has developed a number of security measures which have been presented to the President and are now being implemented. 'We have several measures on this issue which we have presented to our President. We are implementing them,' Fidan emphasized.
Furthermore, sources among US officials report that Ukraine has agreed to facilitate safe passage for certain non-Russian oil tankers. This decision could have been a key factor allowing Turkey to lift the restrictions. Earlier, on the eve of the resumption of movement, it became known that Turkey had restricted the passage of vessels specifically due to a surge in attacks in the region, and later Ankara officially appealed to both sides with a proposal to cease fire on civilian objects.
