TY  - JOUR
T1  - Strait of Istanbul, major accidents and abolishment of left-hand side navigation
AU  - İstikbal, Cahit
PY  - 2020
DA  - January
DO  - 10.3153/AR20005
JF  - Aquatic Research
JO  - Aquat Res
PB  - Nuray ERKAN ÖZDEN
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 2618-6365
SP  - 40
EP  - 65
VL  - 3
IS  - 1
LA  - en
AB  - Strait ofIstanbul is one of the most difficult waterways in the world. It’s curvedstructure, sharp bends which require 12 major course alterations form a uniquemarine environment for passing vessels. Currents also form a natural difficultyfor navigation, especially at areas at the North of Kandilli point. There are threetypes of currents prevail in the Strait of Istanbul: the first is the surfacecurrents, which finds it’s dynamics at the difference of sea levels between Seaof Marmara and Black Sea. Due to this difference in levels, which is around 40centimeters on average and fed by the rivers flowing into Black Sea, waters rundown to Sea of Marmara and to outer seas. Second, is the counter currents andeddies inside the bays. Third is the subsurface currents, formed by thedifference of salinity between Marmara and Black Sea, starts from 10 meters to40 deep and in counter direction with the surface currents. To make thiscurrents system more complicated, in the case of strong SW winds when lastedmore than 2-3 days, the whole currents system changes when the surface currentsreversed by the wind and above-mentioned difference in sea levels exchangepositions to the favor of Sea of Marmara.Due to this unique system of currents, Strait of Istanbul used to have aunique navigational system, too. Starting from ancient times, ships navigatingin the Strait of Istanbul used to navigate on the Port side, especially whennavigating from Sea of Marmara to Black Sea direction. Thus, ships could get better protection against current. This practice was inked on thepaper in 1933 and by the Istanbul Port Regulation through which it becamecompulsory for ships navigating in the Strait of Istanbul. But as theinternational regulations on the preventing collision at sea emerged and itappeared that right-hand navigation was established for narrow channels andaltering the course to Starboard in the head-on situations has become a rule,the Left-hand side navigation in the Strait of Istanbul started to lead toconfusion. There have been three major accidents in the Strait of Istanbulwhich could be attributed to confusion created by this national rule againstthe international rule; in 1960, 1966 and 1979, finally Left-hand sidenavigation in the Strait of Istanbul was abolished in 1982. This article isabout these long-term proceedings of Left-hand side navigation in the Strait ofIstanbul, concentrating on and analysing three major accidents.
KW  - Strait of İstanbul
KW  - Maritime safety
KW  - Left-hand side navigation
KW  - Thalweg line
KW  - Turkish Straits
KW  - Collision Regulations
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UR  - https://doi.org/10.3153/AR20005
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/901742
ER  -