Turkey has a well-enforced scheme governing the discharge of black and grey water. While foreign flagged yachts are not inspected to see if they have adequate tankage, a digital “blue card” is required by all boats and this is monitored by harbourmasters and coastguard.

Published 3 years ago, updated 4 days ago

Turkey’s Blue Card Scheme

Discharge of any kind may be considered illegal in Turkey.

While the authorities are not known to inspect foreign-flagged yachts for tankage, a black water tank has been a practical necessity in Turkey for many years.

By Law grey water must be captured as well as black, however enforcement is spotty and it does seem to depend on which port you pump out. Black water tanks should most definitely be fitted and an ability to demonstrate that grey water can be captured in some way. Some Port Captains are more rigid than others.

The new scheme governing the discharge of black and grey water requires all boats to have a Blue Card, which operates digitally. This regulation is valid and mandatory for all Turkish Territorial Waters.

All black and grey water must be collected and pumped out ashore. The Blue Card monitors the amount of wastewater deposited ashore to ensure holding tanks are pumped out rather than emptied into the sea.

How to get a Blue Card?

• If spending more than 2 days in Turkey, a Blue Card is required.
• In the past, yacht owners used to obtain a physical card from a marina, which was programmed with the boat’s details so local authorities could track sewage disposal at pump out stations.
• The Blue Card system is now integrated into a unified electronic system called DAU (Denizcilik Atıkları Uygulaması – Maritime Sewage Application).
• Yachts are now registered and monitored electronically through a unique number and QR code, rather than requiring a physical Blue Card. This system tracks wastewater and solid waste discharge from yachts, both Turkish and foreign-flagged, within Turkish waters.
• Within 48 hours of arrival in Turkey, yacht owners should register in the DAU system. Download the free App here. The marina at the point of entry can advise.
• A serial number will be issued through which waste pump-out will be monitored.
• Boats that already have a blue card can collect their waste with their current blue card number as the Blue Card numbers have all been transferred to this new system.

How does it work?

• It is obligatory for yacht owners to pump out both grey and black water (although how this is enforced is not clear).
• Each waste pump-out point has its own tariff.
• Most marinas now have pump-out points and the cost ranges from free to 60-70TL (approx. US$12-15).
• It should be noted that many pump-out points don’t work.
• When visiting a pump-out facility it is recommended to get a barcoded document from the authorised waste collection facility to show during inspection by the authorities.
• A yacht owner who fails to show they discharged their waste ashore and recorded on the DAU system will be open to fines from the Coast Guard.
• See this very useful list of pump-out points throughout Turkey on the Marina Kedisi website.

Some areas off limits

In some places such as Gocek, boats without grey water and black water tanks are banned from anchoring in bays or coves in the area.

In Ayvanlik, the Port Captain has advised that any black/grey water discharge from boats will result in fines and possibly seizure of the boat.  Ensure you understand all local requirements to avoid any issues.

Boats without a grey water and black water tank can transit directly to a marina provided they have a reservation at the marina in advance.  Fines are steep and the Gocek Port Captain has been known to enforce the issue, using his boats and his employees.

Rules are being enforced

Bodrum’s Port Captain has also been known to enforce the rules by dropping by yachts and asking. If he does not like your answers, he suggests that you visit a local yard to have the issue addressed.

A situation was reported to Noonsite where a cruiser rented a 50’ sailboat that had not previously had a grey water tank. It now does have a grey water pillow tank with a pump to offload the water. When asked, he was told this was to satisfy the Port Capt. He used it for the seven days he rented the boat.

Cruisers have reported in the past that areas where you are less likely to get hassled about pump outs are the Gokova and Hisarounu Gulfs.

For information on other restrictions in Turkey see: Noonsite/Turkey/Formalities/Restrictions.

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Related Links:

Noonsite European Black and Grey Water Regulations