Boat
rules
Some Regulations Concerning the Use of Foreign-Owned Yachts
in Turkish Waters and Leaving them in Turkish Waters
Entry
Yachts entering or leaving Turkey shall make their entry or
departure at frontier ports. Ports of entry along the
Turkish coast are : Trabzon, Giresun, Ordu, Samsun, Inebolu,
Hopa, Rize, Sinop, Zonguldak, Bartin, Eregli, Tekirdag,
Derince, Gemlik, Istanbul, Canakkale, Mudanya, Bandirma,
Akçay, Ayvalik, Dikili, Izmir, Cesme, Kusadasi, Didim,
Güllük, Bodrum, Datca, Marmaris, Fethiye, Kas, Finike, Kemer,
Antalya, Alanya, Anamur, Bozyazi, Botas, Tasucu, Mersin,
Iskenderun. There are no standard harbor charges but some of
the Ports of Entry may charge a small mooring fee. There no
official charges except purchase of the Transit log. Marina
stays of course are charged.
The entire crew must have a passport valid for the length of
stay in Turkey together with a visa. All visitors to Turkey
must have a date stamp in their passport from Port of Entry
and date stamp on departure. Visas at varying cost are
required by citizens of all countries, although some are
free, and can be obtained at Port of Entry. Usually these
are valid for 3 months. Visas for a longer period can be
obtained from Turkish Embassies in Country of Residence or
for 1 year if an annual contract is held with a Turkish
Marina.
If you wish to enter Turkey, after you have sailed through
international ports and waters, then you are required to
obtain a Yacht Registration Form (Transit Log), which
contains information about yachts and yachtsmen. You will
need to complete this form in accordance with the
explanations given there and you will need to go through the
Customs, Health and Port procedures as per the international
regulations stated within those explanations and in
accordance with your declaration.
The cost of the Yacht Registration Form (Transit Log) is
$30.00 and it is valid for one year. This allows a yacht to
travel freely in Turkish waters and may be inspected by any
harbor official at any time. The Transit Log / Cruising
Permit is valid for 1 year but is cancelled if a yacht
leaves Turkey; or there is a change of ownership of the
yacht; or for charter yachts, at the end of the cruise; or
when the yacht owner or captain leave the yacht in a marina
for laying up. Under any of these circumstances, a new
Transit long will be required. On leaving Turkey it is
cancelled and at the same time the exit stamp is entered in
the passport.
However, if the owner of the yacht or the legal keeper of
the yacht changes within that year and if the yacht leaves
Turkish Customs Area or the Form is lost, then the term of
validity of the Form comes to an end. It is possible to
obtain a new Yacht Registration Form in such occurrences.
Importing Yacht Parts and Inventory Change
Foreign yacht-owners can import duty-free spare parts and
equipment for use their yachts under customs authority
control. These spare parts and equipment will be recorded in
the inventory of the yacht. Whilst your yacht is in Turkey,
if due to any reason (i.e. repairs, etc.) a change occurs in
the inventory of the yacht, you will be required to have the
necessary changes logged through the relevant Customs
officials on your Yacht Registration Form.
Spare parts belonging to your yacht and other material will
be allowed to remain in Turkey as long as your yacht remains
in Turkey. If any spare part becomes redundant following
repairs carried out on the yacht and the owner wishes to
take it out of Turkey, then the owner will have to have such
parts registered in the inventory list of the yacht. You can
also leave your old spare parts with the customs officials.
Cruising in Turkish Waters
You, as the owner of the yacht and your guests on the yacht,
are entitled to sail freely in Turkish waters and between
ports, on condition that the purpose of the trip is not
commercial. You may wish to sail between Turkish ports for
the purpose of travel, leisure or sport.
As long as the captain, crew and the yachtsmen of the yacht
remain the same on such trips, you can sail freely to the
bays on your route, except forbidden areas, without the need
to go through any procedures. If any change occurs between
ports, in terms of your captain, yachtsmen or crew, then you
should definitely make an application to the Director of
Port in your area and obtain a confirmation for the change.
Foreign-flagged private yachts belonging to more than one
owner and yachts belonging to an association or a yacht
club, may be used by four keepers only in one year.
If you are in Turkey with your yacht and you wish to extend
your visa for your stay, then you will need to allocate a
marina or a mooring place licensed by the Ministry of
Tourism, as your address of residence and after you notify
the authorities of the address you will be granted an
extension. In such cases, the extension you can be granted
on your term of residence and visa may be no longer than 5 (five)
years, depending on your term of contract that you have with
the marina or the moorage.
You can also use your own vehicle freely, after you inform
the Directorate of Customs, whilst you stay in Turkey under
the term of your visa and residency. Should you wish to
leave Turkey for a period of time temporarily with your
yacht, you can leave your road vehicle, if you have one,
which you have brought to Turkey, at places that are
allocated and monitored by the Customs authorities.
If, for example, you or your family need to be collected
from another port or taken to another port, then your
captain, on condition that he has your written or fax
instructions to do so, can obtain a permit to sail from the
Directorate of Port and can sail to another Turkish port,
forth and back, without any yachtsmen or guests on board.
Unless the authorities receive a complaint or a claim, which
should be made in accordance with the regulations, no
searches, either of your yacht or for any goods, will be
carried out. However, if the authorities conduct a search
upon receipt of a complaint or a claim through the
appropriate channels and establish you to be in possession
of goods that are forbidden to be taken into Turkey, then
any such item or items will be seized by the customs
authorities and will not be returned until your yacht leaves
Turkish waters.
In such instances when you have to depart from or enter
Turkey for reasons of emergency, extraordinary conditions or
under the obligations set out by the Law protecting life and
property afloat, it is an obligation to report the case to
the Turkish officials at the first port of arrival.
Leaving Yachts in Turkish Marinas or Leaving Turkey
Foreign-flagged yachts, on condition that they are sailed by
their owners once every two years, can remain in Turkey up
to five (5) years without a requirement for any permission.
You can leave Turkey by other means of transport during this
period after you leave your yacht at a marina or a moorage
licensed by the Ministry of Tourism.
When leaving Turkish ports for international ports with your
yacht, you need to complete the relevant section of the
Yacht Registration Form, have it confirmed by the Director
of Port and complete the required procedures at the Customs
Directorate.
Regulations for Tax-Free
Diesel Fuel for Foreign Yachts
Foreign-registered yachts may obtain tax-free diesel fuel
subject to the conditions set out below:
Tax-free fuel will be available for use only in foreign
yachts and will be obtainable only from marinas and
shipyards licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism.
The owner of the yachts may be Turkish or foreign but must
be a person having a permanent place of residence outside of
Turkey.
The yacht may be brought to Turkey with the owner or may be
brought two months earlier or later than the owner's arrival
in Turkey.
The yacht may receive the tax-free fuel only in the presence
of the owner.
Use of Vehicles by Foreign
Yachtsmen
Foreign yachtsmen are allowed to use their foreign -
registered vehicles in Turkey for 6 months in any one year.
At the end of 6 months their vehicles must be taken out of
the country. If the yacht owner or captain takes over the
yacht, their vehicles must be put into the marina customs
bond under the responsibility of the marina. The vehicles
may be left in bond for up to 4 months. Before expiry, an
application may be made to the chief customs authorities of
the district for extension of period for a this period for a
further 2 months. Foreign yacht owners cannot keep yachts
and their vehicles on their passports at the same time. It
is advisable that on entering Turkey, the yacht owners wife
or friends have the vehicle recorded in their passport.
Underwater Diving
Diving for purposes of sport, with proper equipment and in
non-restricted areas, is permitted. Foreign divers should
have official documentation of their specifics and training
and must be accompanied, when diving, by a licensed Turkish
guide.
The limit for diving with diving gear is 30 meters. For
educational purposes, this limit is extended to 42 meters.
Dives exceeding 30 meters must be carried out with proper
diving and medical equipment. In order to protect Turkish
archaeological and cultural values, it is strictly forbidden
to transport Turkish antiquities or natural specimens.
Note: Gelibolu - Çanakkale (ancient Gallipoli or Dardanelles)
is a good area for shipwreck diving.
Your Responsibilities
You are not allowed to use your private yacht for commercial
purposes unless you obtain the necessary permission from the
Ministry of Tourism.
You are not allowed to charge individuals you have declared
as your guests for any cruises.
You need to be aware that if any untruthful declarations are
being submitted, these will be subject to legal proceedings
brought against you.
If you export any historical artifacts, you will be
subjected to legal proceedings brought against you. Such an
act constitutes a crime.
You should not engage yourself in any way of exchange of
goods (buying or selling) that have not yet been through the
necessary customs and duty procedures, with other yachts or
ships. Such an exchange is illegal.
Such occurrences as stated above are considered as acts of
crime internationally and in Turkey, and if such an act is
established to have taken place then the legal proceedings
to follow will be in accordance with the relevant
legislation in Turkey.
Marinas
Albatros Marina
www.albatrosmarina.com Adaköy Kirlik Mevkii
Marmaris - Mugla (252) 4122456
Fax:(252) 4125547
Setur Kalamis Marina
www.seturmarinas.com Kalamis - Istanbul (216) 3462346 (6
lines)
Fax:(216) 3461656
Atabay Marina
www.atabaymarina.com Arpalik Mevkii
Eskihisar - Gebze - Kocaeli (262) 6555854
Fax:(262) 6555818
Ataköy Marina
www.atakoymarina.com.tr Sahil Yolu - Ataköy - Istanbul (212)
5604270 (10 lines)
Fax:(212) 5607270
Marti Marina
www.martimarina.com Hisarönü - Orhaniye
Marmaris - Mugla (252) 4871063 - 4871064
Fax:(252) 4871066
Club Marina
www.turkeyclubmarina.net Göcek - Fethiye - Mugla (252)
6451800
Fax:(252) 6451804
Port Göcek
www.portgocek.com Göcek - Fethiye - Mugla (252) 6451520 -
6452288
Fax:(252) 6451897
Levent Marina Mustafa Kemal Sahili
Çakalburnu - Izmir (232) 2771111 - 2597794
Fax: (232) 2779759
Marmaris Netsel Marina
www.netselmarina.com Marmaris - Mugla (252) 4122708
Fax:(252) 4125351
Yacht Marin
www.yachtmarin.com Yalancibogaz - Marmaris - Mugla (252)
4220022 - 4220054
Fax:(252) 4220049
Turban Antalya Kaleiçi Marina Kaleiçi - Antalya (242)
2423676
Fax:(242) 2423675
Turban Bodrum Marina Bodrum - Mugla (252) 3161860 - 3161865
Fax:(252) 3161406
Port Bodrum
www.portbodrum.com Yalikavak - Bodrum - Mugla (252) 3853860
- 3110600
Fax:(252) 3853281
D-Marin
www.dogusmarina.com.tr Turgutreis - Bodrum - Mugla (252)
3829200
Fax:(252) 3826200
Park Marina
www.kemermarina.com Kemer - Antalya (242) 8141490 (3 lines)
Fax:(242) 8141552
Setur Kusadasi Marina
www.seturmarinas.com Kusadasi - Aydin (256) 6181460
Fax:(256) 6181464
Setur Ayvalik Marina
www.seturmarinas.com Ataturk Blv - Ayvalik - Balikesir (266)
3122696
Fax:(266) 3122316
Setur Altinyunus Marina
www.seturmarinas.com Çesme - Izmir (232) 7231434 - 7231631
Fax:(232) 7234620
Setur Antalya Marina
www.seturmarinas.com Fevzi Çakmak cd. No:57/B
Antalya (242) 2291340 (3 lines)
Fax:(242) 2412056
Setur Finike Marina
www.seturmarinas.com Finike - Antalya (242) 8555030
Fax:(242) 8555031
|