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WELCOME TO A
SAILING PARADISE
The
azure waters of the Mediterranean, the Aegean,
and the Black Sea, as well as the Sea of Marmara,
surround
Turkey to the
south, west and north.
With over 8,333 kilometres of coastline along
the four seas, Turkey is a veritable treasure
chest of coves, inlets, bays and beaches at
which yachtsmen can choose a different and
private anchorage each night. The sailing
paradise of Turkey is also home to the Blue
Voyage. This idyllic cruise means sailing with
the winds, into coves and over the seas and
becoming one with nature. It is also an
experience of the history of man from the
perspective of the sea rather than from the
land, a journey which carries you to the private
beach of Cleopatra, the eternal fires of remains
of ancient civilizations. For lovers of the
active life, sailing in clear waters provides
great opportunities for swimming, fishing,
waterskiing, surfing and diving.
Sailing in Turkey also allows you to experience
a truly enriching cultural exchange with the
hospitable and gracious people of the coastal
villages and towns. The tempered winds which
generally blow from the west and northwest make
the long summers ideal for yachting, and seem to
encourage an appreciation of nature. From some
of the turquoise coast's unspoilt and sheltered
bays you can see mountain peaks rising to almost
3,000 metres above sea level.
In Turkey, modem facilities and comfort have not
overshadowed ancient hospitality and the slower
pace of life. The pleasure of yachting in Turkey
will tempt you to come back again and again, to
explore yet another stretch of coast and to
relive the luxurious ease of life on the sea.
TURKEY WILL BE ON YOUR YACHT'S ROUTE.
You can hire a yacht, with or without crew,
in Turkey or you can sail to Turkey in your own
yacht.
Please visit the website of the
Turkish Consulate
to enquire whether, due to the nationality, you
require a visa to visit Turkey or not.
YACHTING
REGULATIONS
Ports of Entry
in Turkey
Hopa, Rize, Trabzon, Giresun, Ordu, Samsun,
Inebolu, Sinop, Bartin, Zonguldak, Eregli,
Istanbul, Tekirdag, Derince, Gemlik, Mudanya,
Bandirma, Çanakkale, Akçay, Ayvalik, Dikili,
Izmir, Kusadasi, Didim, Güllük, Bodrum,
Turgutreis, Datça, Marmaris, Fethiye, Kas,
Finike, Kemer, Antalya, Alanya, Anamur, Bozyazi,
Tasucu, Mersin, Botas, Iskenderun.
Entering Turkey
If you wish to enter Turkey after you have
sailed through international ports and waters,
then you are required to obtain a Yacht
Registration Form (Transit Log), which contains
information about yachts and yachtsmen. The Form
should be completed in accordance with the
explanations given and you will need to go
through the Customs, Health and Port procedures
as per the international regulations stated
within those explanations and in accordance with
your declaration.
The cost of the Transit Log is $30.00 and it is
valid for one year. However, if the owner of the
yacht or the legal keeper of the yacht changes
within that year and if the yacht leaves Turkish
Customs Area or the Form is lost, then the term
of validity of the Form comes to an end. It is
possible to obtain a new Yacht Registration Form
in such occurrences.
Trips within
Turkish Waters or Between Turkish Ports
You, as the owner of the yacht, and your guests
on the yacht are entitled to sail freely in
Turkish waters and between ports, on condition
that the purpose of the trip is not commercial.
You may wish to sail between Turkish ports for
the purpose of travel, leisure or sport.
As long as the captain, crew and the yachtsmen
of the yacht remain the same on such trips, you
can sail freely to the bays on your route,
except forbidden areas, without the need to go
through any procedures. If any change occurs
between ports, in terms of your captain,
yachtsmen or crew, then you should definitely
make an application to the Harbour Master in
your area and obtain a confirmation for the
change. Foreign-flagged private yachts belonging
to more than one owner and yachts belonging to
an association or a yacht club, may be used by
four keepers only in one year.
If you are in our country with your yacht and
you wish to extend your visa for your stay, then
you will need to allocate a marina or a mooring
place licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, as
your address of residence and after you notify
the authorities of the address you will be
granted an extension. In such cases, the
extension you can be granted on your term of
residence and visa may be no longer than 5
(five) years, depending on your term of contract
that you have with the marina or the moorage.
You can also use your own vehicle freely, after
you inform the Directorate of Customs, whilst
you stay in Turkey under the term of your visa
and residency.
Should you wish to leave Turkey for a period of
time temporarily with your yacht, you can leave
your road vehicle, if you have one, which you
have brought to Turkey, at places that are
allocated and monitored by the Customs
authorities. If, for example, you or your family
need to be collected from another port or taken
to another port, then your captain, on condition
that he has your written or fax instructions to
do so, can obtain a permit to sail from the
Directorate of Port and can sail to another
Turkish port, forth and back, without any
yachtsmen or guests on board.
Unless the authorities receive a complaint or a
claim, which should be made in accordance with
the regulations, no searches, either of your
yacht or for any goods, will be carried out.
However, if the authorities conduct a search
upon receipt of a complaint or a claim through
the appropriate channels and establish you to be
in possession of goods that are forbidden to be
taken into Turkey, then any such item or items
will be seized by the customs authorities and
will not be returned until your yacht leaves
Turkish waters. In such instances when you have
to depart from or enter Turkey for reasons of
emergency, extraordinary conditions or under the
obligations set out by the Law protecting life
and property afloat, it is an obligation to
report the case to the Turkish officials at the
first port of arrival.
Diving Areas
Equipped diving is subject to obtaining
permission. You can obtain the relevant
information and the co-ordinations from regional
Tourist and Information directorates.
CHANGES IN THE YACHT INVENTORY
Whilst your yacht is in Turkey, if due to
any reason (i.e. repairs, etc.) a change occurs
in the inventory of the yacht, you will be
required to have the necessary changes logged
through the relevant Customs officials on your
Yacht Registration Form. Spare parts belonging
to your yacht and other material will be allowed
to remain in Turkey as long as your yacht
remains in Turkey. If any spare part becomes
redundant following repairs carried out on the
yacht and the owner wishes to take it out of
Turkey, then the owner will have to have such
parts registered in the inventory list of the
yacht. You can also leave your old spare parts
with the customs officials in accordance with
the Customs Act 4458, section 164.
Leaving Your Yacht in Turkey
Foreign-flagged yachts, on condition that
they are sailed by their owners once every two
years, can remain in Turkey up to five (5) years
without a requirement for any permission. You
can leave our country by another means of
transport during this period after you leave
your yacht at a marina or a moorage licensed by
the Ministry of Tourism.
Leaving Turkey
When leaving Turkish ports for international
ports with your yacht, you need to complete the
relevant section of the Yacht Registration Form,
have it confirmed by the Harbour Master and
complete the required procedures at the Customs
Directorate.
Please Note:
1) You are not allowed to use your private
yacht for commercial purposes unless you obtain
the necessary permission from the Ministry of
Tourism.
2) You are not allowed to charge
individuals you have declared as your guests for
any cruises.
3) You need to be aware that if any
untruthful declarations are being submitted,
these will be subject to legal proceedings
brought against you.
4) If you export any historical artefacts,
you will be subjected to legal proceedings
brought against you. Such an act constitutes a
crime.
5) You should not engage yourself in any
way of exchange of goods (buying or selling)
that have not yet been through the necessary
customs and duty procedures, with other yachts
or ships. Such an exchange is illegal.
Such occurrences as stated above are considered
as acts of crime internationally and in our
country and if such an act is established to
have taken place, then the legal proceedings to
follow will be in accordance with the relevant
legislation in Turkey.
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