Black Sea civilian ship attacks prompt Turkish security measures

Turkey has begun delaying the issuance of permits and extending review periods for commercial vessels transiting the Dardanelles toward Novorossiysk. The move follows increased security threats in the Black Sea, where dozens of attacks on civilian ships—operating under various flags both at sea and in ports—were recorded during July.

The disruption affects major transit corridors. While Turkish authorities are slowing approvals for ships heading to Novorossi the flow of traffic to Odessa has also ceased due to reciprocal measures taken by the Russian Federation. Ankara's current policy is driven by a need to protect its own fleet and mitigate potential legal claims from shipowners and insurers. Under the Montreux Convention, Turkey is responsible for ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea—a service for which it collects fees that are increased annually.

Transit status and vessel movement

Despite the delays, some vessels continue to reach Russian ports. Tracking data indicates that on August 9, the Greek-flagged oil tanker Aegean Dream passed through the Dardanelles after waiting for clearance since Thursday. The vessel is bound for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in Novorossiysk to load Kazakh oil. On the same day, the Turkish-flagged container ship Mehmet Kahveci, manned by a Turkish crew, also transited toward Novorossiysk.

Logistics disparities and moratorium proposals

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is promoting a "synchronous moratorium" to resume stable transit. The proposal suggests that Ukraine cease attacks on Novorossiysk and Russian tankers in exchange for Russia stopping strikes on Odessa and vessels bound for Ukrainian ports. Ankara seeks this arrangement as the current volatility results in billions of dollars in lost transit revenue.

However, the operational contexts of the two primary hubs differ significantly:

• Novorossiysk serves as a convergence point for Russian oil, grain, and container exports to three continents. The port currently treats infrastructure damage from strikes as routine operational disruptions rather than critical failures.
• Odessa remains Ukraine's sole high-capacity window for mass exports of grain and metals. Conversely, inbound shipments to Odessa often include cargo that supports the Ukrainian economy and military, including US-approved weaponry such as ATACMS missiles and M270 launchers.

Russia has indicated it will not enter a new grain-style deal under current conditions, specifically citing the blockade of the Kerch Strait by Ukraine. Instead, Russia is focusing on adapting to security risks through the deployment of military protection for its shipping fleet.

Source: This article was adapted from an original Russian-language publication by Pravda.Ru.