Turkish P&I cover issue resolved / Agreement between Turkey and IG

Update: 25 October 2023

Regarding P&I confirmation letter request by Turkish authorities from vessels carrying Annex I cargo, the Ministry of Transportation has issued a new update on 24 October 2023 as follows:

• All vessels transiting Turkish straits are requested to submit sailing plan-1 (SP-1) – access the form here.
• Vessels which loaded Annex I cargo from a Turkish port and discharge at another Turkish port are excluded from P&I confirmation letter request while transiting the Turkish Straits. They should instead submit justifier documents (such as B/L, cargo manifest etc) along with SP-1 report to the Turkish authorities.

Update: 10 February 2023

Turkish P&I cover issue

Members are referred to the below industry news update issued on 13 December 2022 and the agreement reached between the International Group of P&I Clubs and the Government of Turkey regarding the Government of Turkey’s requirement that ships carrying crude oil and transiting or entering Turkish waters from 01 December 2022 (extended to 02 December 2022) must provide letters of confirmation from the owner’s P&I Club attesting that cover will remain in place while the ship is in Turkish waters.

The Club can now confirm that this same agreement applies to ships over 300gt carrying petroleum products (listed in MARPOL Annex I – Appendix I) through Turkish controlled waters.

Members are advised to contact the Club for further information and for the documentation needed for ships carrying such cargoes, as well as crude oil cargoes.

Update: 13 December 2022

Following significant engagement between the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG) and the Government of Turkey, an agreement has been reached allowing ships carrying crude oil cargoes to continue their voyages through Turkish-controlled waters.

Members are referred to the Government of Turkey’s requirement that ships carrying crude oil and transiting or entering Turkish waters from 01 December 2022 (extended to 02 December 2022) must provide letters of confirmation from the owner’s P&I Club attesting that cover will remain in place while the ship is in Turkish waters.

Members are advised to contact the Club for further information and for the documentation needed for ships carrying crude oil.