A New Era in Shipbuilding and Maintenance

The regulation redefines the technical criteria, inspection principles, and certification procedures to be followed during the construction, modification, and maintenance-repair processes of ships and watercraft.

Scope and Exceptions

With the new regulation:

• All ships and watercraft constructed, modified, or maintained within Turkey’s borders and free zones are now covered.

• However, military ships and watercraft, as well as those belonging to the Coast Guard Command, the Gendarmerie General Command, the General Directorate of Security, and other public institutions deemed appropriate by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s Directorate General of Shipyards and Coastal Structures, are excluded.

Permit Process and Technical Requirements

• For Turkish-flagged ships and watercraft with a total length of 12 meters or more, a passenger capacity of more than 12 persons, or engaged in the transport of hazardous materials, obtaining permission from the port authority has been made mandatory.

• Vessels whose passenger capacity exceeds 12 as a result of modifications are also included in this requirement.

Mandatory Database Registration

• Construction and modification details of all ships and watercraft with a total length of 2.5 meters or more must be fully recorded in the Turgut Reis Ship Industry Database Program (GSVP).

• This obligation also applies to foreign-flagged ships and watercraft.

Survey and Inspection Locations

• Except for inland waters, survey operations for ships and watercraft with a total length of 15 meters or more conducted on land may only be carried out in shipyards, fishing shelters, or marinas.

• Operations in free zones will be coordinated by the relevant Free Zone Directorates.

Sanctions and Transition Period

• Administrative fines and other sanctions for non-compliance with the provisions of the regulation have been clearly defined.

• The previous regulation dated November 7, 2015 has been repealed.

• Some provisions of the new regulation took effect on the date of publication, while others will come into force three months later.