2026 Anchoring Fees Amendment

As of January 1, 2026, the anchoring and berthing costs to be applied in Turkey’s maritime jurisdictions have been reorganized within the framework of the current regulations of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the determined Revaluation Rate. These fees, which are of critical importance for commercial enterprises in the maritime sector and private boat owners, vary according to the vessel’s tonnage, flag type, and the location of the anchoring area.

Basic Criteria in Determining Anchoring Fees

In accordance with the directive published by the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, ship anchoring fees are determined on a daily basis and in US Dollars based on the Gross Tonnage (GT) of the vessel. The most fundamental determining factor in the pricing process is the tonnage value representing the total volume of the ship. In addition, whether the ship is in an area within the scope of the Turkish Straits Maritime Traffic Regulations (TSMTR) is of great importance for the determination of unit prices.

Flag Type and Cabotage Discount Advantages

According to official legislation, the unit fees applied for foreign-flagged vessels are calculated with a higher coefficient compared to Turkish-flagged vessels. However, there is a special regulation that reduces costs for ships carrying the Turkish flag and whose voyage zone is defined as “Cabotage Voyage” in their seaworthiness certificate. A further discount of fifty percent is applied to these vessels over the standard Turkish-flagged vessel tariff specified in the directive, thereby providing support to domestic maritime trade.

Textual Calculation Method of Anchoring Fee

The calculation of the anchoring cost is based on a mathematical multiplication process. The total amount is obtained by multiplying the registered Gross Tonnage value of the vessel by the daily unit price corresponding to the status of the area and the flag type. This operation is multiplied by the total number of days the vessel remains in the anchorage area to reach the final amount. For example, the cost of a foreign-flagged vessel anchoring in the straits region is evaluated over the highest unit price determined per tonnage.

Time Limit and the Impact of the 168-Hour Threshold on Cost

The time factor is the most critical element determining the rate of increase in cost in the calculation. According to the directive, base unit prices are valid for the first one hundred and sixty-eight hours of the anchoring period, i.e., the first seven days. However, if the anchoring period exceeds this threshold, the daily unit prices applied from the eighth day onwards increase gradually. This application is designed to encourage the efficient use of anchorage areas and to prevent long-term waits.

2026 Vessel Registry Fee Amounts and Updates

Annual vessel registry fees, which private boats and yachts are obliged to pay, have been increased by the Revaluation Rate of twenty-five point forty-nine percent announced for the year 2026. Unlike ship anchoring fees, these fee amounts are classified according to the length of the boat and are collected in Turkish Lira. While boats smaller than five meters are exempt from the fee obligation, boats with a length between five and thirty meters are obliged to pay fee amounts that increase gradually according to seven different length segments. Marine vehicles exceeding thirty meters are taxed from the highest segment to renew their registration with the maritime administration.

Directorate General of Coastal Safety Operational Service Fees

In addition to the anchoring fees collected by the port authorities, the services provided by the Directorate General of Coastal Safety (KEGM) have also been updated according to the 2026 tariff. The pilotage and towage services received by the vessels during anchoring or weighing anchor operations are applied as a fixed base fee based on the tonnage of the vessel and the region where the operation is performed, plus additional premiums per tonnage added to this fee. In strategic passage points such as the Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits, these service fees are subject to a more detailed tariff in order to increase navigational safety.