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Minister of Transportation of Infrastructure Cahit Turhan has said that a total of 83 maritime accidents occurred in the Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelles) and Bosphorus (İstanbul Strait) since the beginning of 2016, responding to a parliamentary question by Altan Tanrıkulu from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
The minister stated that 42,553 ships passed through the Bosphorus in 2016, 42,978 in 2017, 41,103 in 2018 and 19,854 in the first half of 2019. As for the Dardanelles, 44,035, 44,615, 43,999 and 21,26 ships passed through in respective years.
A total of 65 accidents have occurred in Bosphorus and 18 accidents have occurred in Dardanelles since 2016.
In the Bosphorus, 21 accidents happened in 2016, 22 in 2017, 13 in 2018 and nine in the first half of 2019. In the Dardanelles, seven, four, three and four accidents occurred respectively.
The minister added that the Turkish Straits Ship Traffic Service System (TBGTH) was established in 2013 to prevent accidents. The Satellite-Assisted Search and Rescue System (COSPAS-SARSAT) was established in 2005.
With the assistance of the COSPAS_SARSAT system, the Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center (AAKKM) conducts surveillance activities 24/7, the minister said. (RT/VK)
