VesselPDATurkish Straits transit cost in 2026: what a ship pays
A transit of the Istanbul (Bosphorus) or Çanakkale (Dardanelles) Strait is billed as a handful of separate lines, each from a different KEGM tariff table. This page shows what each line is and works one example ship through them.
The lines on a strait transit PDA
- Pilotage — KEGM tariff T.2, charged per strait and per passage, scaled by the ship's gross tonnage.
- Escort tug — KEGM tariffs T.3.1 / T.3.2. Required for certain tankers, gas carriers and large ships depending on the strait and length; the amount depends on vessel kind, length or required bollard pull.
- Light dues and life-saving dues — charged on net tonnage from the KEGM change tables; a non-stop transit pays one round-trip charge, while a ship calling a Turkish port pays per passage.
- VTS fee — vessel traffic services, per passage, not charged on a non-stop transit or below 300 NT.
- Agency fee — set by the appointed agent; not part of the KEGM tariffs.
Worked example
A foreign-flag bulk carrier of 20,000 GRT / 11,000 NRT and 190 m. Amounts are computed live from the tariff in force (KEGM tariff in force 16.09.2026 (pilotage T.2, tugs T.3.1/T.3.2) + KEGM 01.07.2026 light, life-saving & VTS tables).
Non-stop transit, both straits northbound
| Pilotage — Istanbul Strait (KEGM T.2) | $2,633.00 |
| Pilotage — Çanakkale Strait (KEGM T.2) | $2,633.00 |
| Light dues — non-stop transit (round trip) | $16,602.60 |
| Life-saving dues — non-stop transit (round trip) | $7,370.00 |
| Total | $29,238.60 |
Same ship calling a Turkish port, round trip via Istanbul only
| Pilotage — Istanbul Strait (KEGM T.2) (2 passages) | $5,266.00 |
| Light dues — Istanbul Strait entry | $1,696.23 |
| Light dues — Istanbul Strait exit | $1,696.23 |
| Life-saving dues — Istanbul Strait entry | $1,581.23 |
| Life-saving dues — Istanbul Strait exit | $1,581.23 |
| VTS fee — Istanbul Strait (2 passages) | $1,091.48 |
| Total | $12,912.40 |
Estimates, not invoices: the final amounts are settled in the final disbursement account. Sanitary dues and any agency fee are not included.
Price your own call — free, no account
The same engine that produced these numbers runs the VesselPDA calculator: enter your vessel particulars and get every line itemised.
Open the PDA calculatorFAQ
Does a non-stop transit pay VTS?
No. In the VesselPDA tariff reading, a non-stop transit pays one round-trip light and life-saving charge and no VTS fee.
Is an escort tug always required?
No. It depends on the strait, the vessel kind and its length; the calculator applies the tariff rule automatically and lets you force it on or off.