Ulgener

The "Directive on Anchoring Fees for Ships" has been published by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, amending the provisions related to the determination, collection, inspection, and follow-up of anchoring fees for ships anchoring in Turkey's maritime jurisdiction areas. This directive, which will come into effect on January 1, 2024, replaces the anchoring provisions in the 2003 tariff and all references to anchoring in this tariff.

The 6th article of the new directive specifies the principles to be applied to anchoring fees. The first change addressed in this article is the differentiation in fees between Turkish-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels. According to the new directive, foreign-flagged vessels will be subject to fees twice the amount applied to Turkish-flagged vessels.

The second change introduced by the new directive is the application of a separate tariff for vessels with anchoring durations exceeding 168 hours.

The final change in the principles of fee application is related to the difference in fees applied to anchoring areas within the scope of the Turkish Straits Vessel Traffic Regulations (TSVTR) and anchoring areas outside the scope of this regulation.

The new directive sets the tariff based on daily fees and allows optional monthly and yearly payments. Monthly fees are determined as 25 times the daily fee, while yearly fees are set at 6 times the monthly fee. The only exception to monthly and yearly payments is for the Istanbul Strait South Entrance Anchoring Areas, where anchoring fees must be paid on a daily basis, and monthly or yearly payments are not accepted.

Regarding the daily fee calculation per gross tonnage (GT) under the new directive:

For anchoring areas outside the scope of TSVTR:

a) For Turkish-flagged vessels with anchoring durations up to 168 hours: USD 0.002 per GT, and for foreign-flagged vessels: USD 0.004 per GT.

b) For Turkish-flagged vessels with anchoring durations exceeding 168 hours: USD 0.003 per GT, and for foreign-flagged vessels: USD 0.006 per GT.

For anchoring areas listed in TSVTR:

a) For Turkish-flagged vessels with anchoring durations up to 168 hours: USD 0.004 per GT, and for foreign-flagged vessels: USD 0.008 per GT.

b) For Turkish-flagged vessels with anchoring durations exceeding 168 hours: USD 0.006 per GT, and for foreign-flagged vessels: USD 0.012 per GT.

Another new issue is related to the special provisions regarding the anchorage areas within the scope of TSVTR. Vessels transiting within the scope of TSVTR will not be charged anchoring fees in the anchorage areas in Annex-2 of TSVTR as long as their transit passage is not disrupted.

It is also included in the Directive that if the anchoring time exceeds 72 hours, a fee will be charged as of the anchoring hour if the anchoring time exceeds 72 hours for the ships whose transit passage is disrupted or the ships that make a stopover passage within the scope of TSVTR.

The "Sample Calculation Table" is provided in the directive for reference.

Sample Calculation Table for Anchoring Fees

* A 50% discount is applied to Turkish flagged ships making cabotage voyages that meet the conditions in the second paragraph of Article 6.

	SAMPLE CALCULATION
1	For a Turkish flagged 10.000 GT vessel with 5 days anchoring time, excluding TSVTR; Daily fee                                    :10,000 tons x 0.002 $/ton = $ 20 Total fee to be paid                  :5 days x $20 = $100 Monthly fee                               : $ 20 x 25 =  $ 500 Annual fee                                 : $ 500  x 6 =  $ 3.000 * A 50% discount is applied to ships within the scope of the second paragraph of Article 6.
2	Within the scope of TSVTR**, for a Turkish flagged* and 10.000 GT vessel which engages a stopover passage with 5 days anchoring time; Daily fee                                    : 10,000 tons x 0.004 $/ton = $ 40 Total fee to be paid                  : 5 days x $ 40 = $ 200 Monthly fee                               : $ 40  x 25 =  $ 1.000 Annual fee                                 : $ 1.000  x 6 =  $ 6.000 * 50% discount is applied to the vessels within the scope of the second paragraph of Article 6. **  Only the daily fee can be paid at Istanbul Strait South Entrance Anchorage Areas.
3	For a foreign flagged 10.000 GT vessel with 5 days anchoring time, excluding TSVTR; Daily fee                                     :10,000 tons x 0.004 $/ton = $ 40 Total fee to be paid                  :5 days x $ 40 = $200 Monthly fee                               : $ 40 x 25 =  $ 1,000 Annual fee                                 : $ 1,000  x 6 =  $ 6,000
4	Within the scope of TSVTR**, for a foreign flagged and 10.000 GT vessel which engages a stopover passage with 5 days anchoring time; Daily fee                                    :10,000 tons x 0.008 $/ton = $ 80 Total fee to be paid                 :5 days x $ 80 = $ 400 Monthly fee                              : $ 80 x 25 =  $ 2,000 Annual fee                                : $ 2,000  x 6 =  $ 12,000
5	Within the scope of TSVTR, for a Foreign Flagged and 10.000 GT vessel with 9 days anchoring time in the Istanbul Strait South Entrance Anchorage Areas*; Fee to be paid: (7 days x 10.000 tons x 0,008 $/ton)+(2 days x 10.000 tons x 0,012 $/ton) =$ 560 + $ 240 = $ 800 * Only the daily fee can be paid at Istanbul Strait South Entrance Anchorage Areas.