The Turkish Straits are one of the most congested and dangerous natural waterways in the world and recent developments have placed additional strain on safety of navigation. Previously, it has been argued that certain steps would improve transit safety and that the expenditure involved in realizing these measures could be financed through a proportional increase in transit charges applicable to vessels transiting through the Straits under the Montreux Convention, which have been applied since the 1980s at a heavily reduced rate by the Turkish Government. Last year, the Turkish authorities announced that the transit charges applicable under the Montreux Convention were to be increased, effective from 7th of October 2022. This short comment considers both the recent developments in the Turkish Straits and the recent decision to raise transit charges, as well as exploring the potential ramifications of the decision with regard to transit safety.
