ANKARA, April 12 (Reuters) – Turkey will forge ahead with plans for a 45-km (30 mile) ship canal linking the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara to try to ease congestion in the Bosphorus Strait, one of the world’s busiest waterways, the government said on Friday.
The “Kanal Istanbul” plans are a pet project of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who announced them ahead of a general election in 2011 in what many Turks dismissed as a prestigious but unrealistic vision.
The canal would turn the European side of Istanbul into part of a large island, running parallel and to the north-west of the Bosphorus. Under the plans, land dug up may be used to fill in part of the sea and create a third airport and sea port.
“We believe that this is a very realistic project that will be talked about by the world,” Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan told reporters in Ankara, adding the country’s Higher Planning Council had decided to go ahead with the project.
He did not comment on the projected cost.
The Bosphorus is the only maritime outlet to the world’s oceans for Black Sea states.
Turkish officials estimate that some 150 million tonnes of oil and petroleum products pass through the environmentally sensitive waters each year. It is also an important export route for Russian and Ukrainian grains and other products. (Reporting by Ozge Ozbilgin; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Anthony Barker)
(c) 2013 Thomson Reuters, Click For Restrictions
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 105,983 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
By Yimou Lee TAIPEI, March 7 (Reuters) – China has stepped up grey-zone warfare against Taiwan, aiming to make the areas around the democratic island “saturated” with balloons, drones and civilian boats,...
Austal USA has kicked off plans to construct a new manufacturing facility, marking a significant expansion of its shipyard capacity in Mobile, Alabama in support of U.S. Navy and Coast...
Oldendorff and Norsepower have announced an agreement to install three Norsepower Rotor Sails™ on board a modern bulk carrier to reduce its emissions. The vessel, Dietrich Oldendorff, will be equipped...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 105,983 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
