SOME REGULATIONS ON USING FOREIGN FLAGGED YACHTS IN TURKISH WATERS
Entry and Exit
of Foreign Flagged Yachts Yachts entering or leaving Turkey
must do so only at frontier ports. Ports of entry along
the Turkish coasts are: Trabzon, Giresun, Ordu, Samsun,
Hopa, Rize,
Sinop, Zonguldak,
Tekirdag, Istanbul, Çanakkale, Bandirma, Akçay, Ayvalik,
Dikili, Izmir, Çesme, Kusadasi, Didim (Söke), Güllük,
Bodrum, Datça, Marmaris, Fethiye, Kas, Finike, Kemer,
Antalya, Alanya, Anamur, Tasucu, Mersin, Botas, Bartin,
Gemlik, Mudanya, Bozyazi, Inebolu, Derince, Eregli,
Iskenderun harbours.
Formalities concerning the documentation of yachts departing
from their last port of call, or entering a port or
mooring for a winter lay-up, shall be carried out at
that port.
When entering Turkish Waters, foreign yachts
must be recorded
in the yacht owner's or captain’s passport by the customs
authorities. This will be cancelled by the customs authorities
on departure for foreign ports, or when leaving the
yachts for winter lay-up in marinas.
Tax Revenues
According to regulations, there are various taxes and
charges in addition to Customs tax payable by Turkish
and foreign yachts. This is collected by the relevant
administration, after calculating which harbours will
be visited according to the proposed route, and is maintained
by an officer appointed in connection with 36th article
of Yacht Tourism Regulation.
These taxes include
the payment for the other harbours for the entire voyage
during the validation period of the Yacht Registration
Form, which will be checked on the final departure from
the country.
Yacht Registration Form (Transit
Log)
Various details must be recorded in the Transit Log
by the authorities, which include customs, passport
details, health and the sailors, passengers and staff
on each yacht. Once these details have been logged by
the various authorities, they will be checked on entering
and leaving each port but will require no further processing,
until leaving Turkey. The process for yachts in winter
lay-up is performed at the harbour where they will be
staying. Once completing the Registration Form, any
yacht may enter Turkey. There will be exceptions made,
however, in the cases of obligatory departure and entrance
due to extraordinary conditions, in connection with
laws protecting life and property.
Health Process
Processes, including visa and patents, performed within
the yacht registration form, are valid for one year
without the need for any additional processes, as long
as no other harbours outside Turkey have been visited
within that time. In the event of any death or infectious
disease, the nearest Harbour Directorate or highest
Governmental Authority of the region must be immediately
informed.
Importing Equipment
Foreign yacht owners can import spare parts and equipment
duty-free for use on their yachts, under customs authority
control. Such spare parts and equipment will be recorded
in the yacht’s inventory.
Cabotage Laws
Yachts staying in Turkey during the winter, or foreign-owned
private yachts entering from foreign harbours, are only
permitted to sail in Turkish waters on condition that
the owner is on board. Yachts owned jointly or owned
by yacht clubs or associations can be sailed by any
one of four nominated owners per year. Turkish and foreign
private yacht owners may have foreign or Turkish guests
on board for the purpose of travel, sport and leisure
but not for any commercial undertaking.
The use of private yachts that have entered Turkey by
yacht owners or staff, or boarding of Turkish or foreign
guests free of charge, or the use of rented yachts without
staff by yachtsmen, are not accepted as seamanship,
and yachtsmen cannot benefit from the normal rights
of sailors.
A yacht lay-up during winter or departure from a foreign
harbour or a yachting organisation including foreign
flagged yachts, can be boarded by yachtsmen from a Turkish
harbour with the aim of yachting, and leave the yacht
at another Turkish harbour.
Foreign flagged commercial yachts licensed by the Ministry,
are subject to these regulations are not permitted to
voyager transport between Turkish harbours and within
the harbour against cash and bill of lading. However
tourist-related activities of these yachts are not deemed
as voyager transportation.
Should an undocumented foreign flagged yacht organise
a voyage under a certain programme, or carry yachtsmen
or passengers against payment within Turkish harbours,
Cabotage Law will be applied. Evaluation of yachting
activities, important in connection with tourism and
advertisement outside of this article, is possible with
the approval of the Ministry.
Leaving Yachts in Turkish Marinas
Foreigners may leave their yachts in Turkey at a licensed
yacht harbour or docking area for the purpose of storage,
maintenance or repair, for a period of two years and
leave the country.
In such cases, they must apply to the regional customs
office with a document issued by a yacht harbour or
docking area, and the requested process will be recorded
in their passports. Owners may leave their yachts for
up to five years, provided that the yachts sail from
the harbour at least once every two years. At the end
of 5 years, the Ministry of Tourism has the right to
extend the length of stay.
Documents to be requested during
time extension:
1 - Yacht ownership certificate
2 - Certificate proving the stay of yacht for five years
3 - Certificate proving the usage of yacht by yacht
owners at least once every two years
a - Yacht Registration Form copies
4 - Certificate of stay in yacht harbour or yacht docking
area licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
a - Docking agreements