Boats without gray water and black water tanks are being prohibited from entering and anchoring in some popular Turkish cruising areas because authorities are enforcing regulations on the disposal of waste water and effluent.

Published 3 years ago

In the past, yacht owners used to be required to obtain a Blue Card on arrival in Turkey which was programmed with the boat’s details so local authorities could track sewage disposal at pump out stations.

Then, in May 2020, a new system was implemented – the DAU (Denizcilik Atiklari Uygulamasi or Maritime Sewage Application) which was designed to be much simpler than the Blue Card.

However, Port and Customs authorities and other relevant sources including Marmaris Bay Cruisers have reported to Noonsite that the situation regarding gray and black water containment and disposal is in a state of almost daily fluctuation.

Noonsite was advised that while the Blue Card program is no longer operational, in some ports,  the port captains are still collecting a boat’s Fuel, Fresh, Gray and Black water tank capacities.

Some areas off limits

In other places, boats which do not have the appropriate waste tank capacities are banned from entering some areas.  In Gocek for instance, boats without a gray water and black water tank are banned from entering any of the bays or anchoring in any of the coves, according to officials.

Boats without a gray 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 is enforcing the issue, using his boats and his employees.

There is also reportedly some latitude on the inspector RE saying that collection of gray water should be in a black water tank.

The regulation requires separate tanks, but does acknowledge that many in-use boats were not fitted with the required tanks. A black water tank is a necessity if one is to enter / anchor in many bays and coves, even around Cesme.

Ayvalik’s Port Captain recently posted a notice saying that gray and black water discharges from boats anchored in the bay/coves will result in fines and possibly seizure.

Rules are being enforced

Bodrum’s Port Captain is also enforcing 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 gray water tank. It now does have a gray 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.

It is a reminder to anyone cruising in Turkey, or thinking of cruising there, that there are country-wide rules and regulations in regard to gray and black water and they need to be complied with.  Places where you are less likely to get hassled, according to cruisers currently in Turkey, are the Gokova and Hisarounu Gulfs.

For information on restrictions in Turkey see:

Noonsite/Turkey/Formalities/Restrictions.

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Related Links:

Marmaris Bay Cruisers

Royal Yachting Association – Holding Tanks

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Noonsite has not independently verified this information.