On 20 September 2025, the Port State Control Implementation Regulation (“Regulation”) was published in the Official Gazette No. 33023 and entered into force, repealing the previous 2006 regulation. The purpose of the new Regulation is to ensure that foreign-flagged vessels operating within Turkiye’s maritime jurisdiction are inspected for compliance with international conventions to which Turkey is a party, to safeguard the safety of navigation, life, property, and the marine environment, to monitor the living and working conditions of seafarers, to impose sanctions on vessels found to be non-compliant, and to regulate the authorisation and appointment of port state control officers.
The Regulation introduces revised provisions regarding inspection procedures, detention and suspension of operations, bans on entry into Turkish ports, appeals against detention, and inspection fees. For instance, if a vessel is detained in Turkiye or in a port of another member state of the relevant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and departs without authorisation, or fails to proceed to its declared repair yard, the vessel will be banned from entering Turkish ports for a period of six months. Moreover, vessels subjected to three or more detentions in Turkiye within the last thirty-six months will not be allowed to enter Turkish ports. A first entry ban will last twelve months, while a second detention within twelve months after the end of the initial ban will result in a twenty-four-month ban. If a vessel subject to a second ban is detained again, a permanent ban will be imposed.
The processes for detention and rectification of deficiencies are now aligned with international standards established by the IMO. In appropriate cases, vessels may be directed to the nearest suitable repair yard. The right to appeal a detention decision may only be exercised by the vessel owner, operator, or flag state, with the burden of proof resting on the owner.
Inspection fees are also clearly defined under the new Regulation. Repeated inspections will be charged on an incremental basis, and services rendered outside official working hours will incur additional charges. Detention will remain in place until all costs are settled.
In conclusion, compared with the previous regulation, the new Regulation introduces stricter inspections, higher financial obligations, and more severe entry bans. As a result, it has become even more critical for vessels to undergo thorough internal checks before calling at Turkish ports and to remedy any deficiencies in advance.
