Canal Istanbul and Political Dispute on Turkish Straits

Turkish Straits -- Dardanelles and Bosphorus -- are one of the most important passages of maritime transportation of the world. Connecting Black Sea countries to Mediterranean Sea and world, these natural sea passages are not vital only for economy and security of Black Sea and Mediterranean countries but also for the future of the region and world peace. They are one of the most dangerous and difficult to cruise seaways with powerful streams, sharp routes and high traffic. The president of Turkey started in 2011 to a disputed campaign --Canal Istanbul-- to bypass Bosphorus for shipping safety. Because of its size and possible impacts on environment and international politics, the project is called as “Crazy Project”. However, the main political dispute is around Montreux Convention, which regulates transits of merchant and war vessels. Combined with Chinese Maritime Silkroad, Canal Istanbul sounds to have a potential to influence world dynamics. Regarding available technical information, political views and international legislations, this study reviews the Canal Istanbul Project in an integrated way of its economic, environmental, engineering and socio-political impacts. Near and future results of the project on the country’s and world’s maritime trade and politics are discussed from engineering, sociologic and political perspectives. The project may have immense impacts on both Black Sea Countries and the countries wish to use the straits and canals, especially on world leading powers. Amendment of Montreux Convention may spark a wide scale international conflicts for regional transportation, maritime trades and naval forces. Therefore, an international consensus should be established for any changes on the regulations related to transits of both merchant and war vessels, for the safeguard of Turkish straits and Black Sea.

Keywords:

Canal Istanbul, Canal Marmara, Montreux, Black Sea Mediterranean Sea, Turkish Straits,

PDF

___

[1] UNCTAD 2016, “Review of maritime transport, United Nations”, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, ISBN 978-92-1-112904-5N2016.
[2] Stratejik Plan 2019-2023, “T.C Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı 2019-2023 Stratejik Planı”, Ankara.
[3] Kaya A. Kızıldere M. “Istanbul’daki içme ve kullanma suyu havzalarında arazi kullanımı”, TMMOB Çevre Mühendisleri Odası Istanbul Şubesi, Istanbul, 2013.
[4] ISKI 2019, Istanbul Su ve Kanalizasyon İdaresi, www.iski.gov.tr, accessed @ December 2019
[5] Altan T. “Marmara Denizi trafik akışı ve trafik düzeninin analizi”, MS Thesis, Sea Transportation Engineering, Istanbul Technique University, Turkey, 2014.
[6] Artuz L. “Marmara ve boğazların ekolojisi ve degisimler”, B.Ü. Deniz Teknolojisi Sempozyumu, Su Altı Bilim ve Teknoloji Toplantısı, Istanbul, 2003.
[7] Meriç E. Yokeş M. B. Yümün Z. Ü. Eryılmaz M. Eryılmaz F., “Alien benthic foraminifers from turkish strait system”, International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, 5(1):68- 2018.
[8] Inan Y., “The current regime of turkish straits journal of international affairs”, 11-1, 2011.
[9] Ekotrent 2019; Kanal Istanbul Projesi Nedir?, http://ekonomi.haber7.com/, accessed @ December 2019.
[10] Yıldız D, “Karadeniz santrancında en stratejik hamle Kanal Istanbul”, Ankara, 2018.
[11] KIPÇED 2017, “Kanal Istanbul Projesi Çevresel Etki Değerlendirmesi Başvuru Dosyası”, Ulaştırma, Denizcilik ve Haberleşme Bakanlığı Alt Yapı Yatırımları Genel Müdürlüğü, Çınar Mühendislik, 2017.
[12] UDHB 2018, “The ministry of transportation and infrastructure, shipping transit statistics”, https://atlantis.udhb.gov.tr/istatistik/gemi_gecis.aspx, accessed @ June 2019.
[13] SCNS 2018, “Suez Canal Authority, Suez Canal Navigation Statistics”, https://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/English/Navigation/Pages/NavigationStatistics.aspx, accessed @ June 2018.
[14] WST 2019, “Word Sea Trades ISL2019”, Shipping Statistics and Market Review.
[15] DTİ 2018, “Deniz Ticareti İstatistikleri 2018, Deniz Taşıtları, Denizyolu Taşıma ve Teşvik İstatistikleri”, T.C. Ulaştırma Denizcilik ve Haberleşme Bakanlığı Deniz Ticareti Genel Müdürlüğü, http://www.denizticareti.gov.tr/, Ankara.
[16] CTS 2019, “Calculater Turkish Straits”, https://lethagencies.com/turkish-straits/calculator-turkish-straits, Accessed June@ 2019
[17] KGM 2019, “Fener ve Tahlisiye Ücreti Hesaplayıcı”, Kıyı Emniyeti Genel Müdürlüğü, , https://www.kiyiemniyeti.gov.tr/fener_ve_tahsiliye_ucreti_hesaplayici, accesed @ July 2019
[18] SCR, 2018, “Egypt Maritime Transport: Suez Canal Revenues: Annual”, Suez Canal Authority, https://www.ceicdata.com/en/egypt/maritime-transport-revenues/maritime-transport-suez-canal-revenues-annual, accessed @ July 2019
[19] Montreux Convention 1936, Convention Regarding the Regime of Straits Signed at Montreux, July 20.
[20] Yayıcı C. “An assessment on the implementation of gold franc in the framework of montreux convention”, Bilge Strateji, Vol 5, No 8, 149-167. 2013.
[21] Akkaya M. A., “Canal Istanbul project and the effect of our relationship with the montreux convention in coastal states of black sea, OUSBAD”, Türk Deniz Ticareti Sempozyumu VII: Karadeniz Limanları Sempozyumu, Ordu, 2015.
[22] Geymen A. Baz I., “Monitoring urban growth and detecting land cover changes on the Istanbul metroplitan area”, TMMOB Harita ve Kadastro Mühendisleri Odası, Ulusal Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri Kongresi, September 30-October 2, KTÜ, Trabzon, 2007.