Turkey's Bosporus Strait closes again on strong winds
Turkey's Bosporus Strait is closed to maritime traffic for a third day due to strong winds and current, shipping sources said Tuesday, Platts reports.
The strait closed to commercial maritime traffic Sunday following strong winds and currents in the Black Sea, shipping and port sources said previously. It was also officially closed Monday to maritime traffic ahead of a planned firework display as part of Turkey's Republic Day celebrations.
According to information from Turkey's Directorate General of Coastal Safety website the Bosporus closed in the north-south direction at 5:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) Tuesday after opening on Monday at 11:00 pm local time, following the firework celebrations. While in the south-north direction the Strait is scheduled to close at 2:00 p.m. local time Tuesday having previously opened at 07:00 a.m. local time.
Currently six tankers above 200 meters length overall, typically anything larger than or equal to the size of a Panamax vessel, are waiting to transit the Bosporus in the northbound direction and eight in the southbound direction, according to data from The Turkish Straits Vessel Traffic Service Authority.
Delays for oil tankers entering the Turkish Straits rose by one day on Monday to four days from three days (three days plus 24 hours not included as not charged to shipowner), according to Platts data Tuesday.
According to a daily report seen by Platts Tuesday, delays are now between five and six days northbound and five to six days southbound.
Shipping sources said the Dardanelles Strait continues to be open to commercial traffic.
