Merchant ships clog Istanbul anchorages, halting Black Sea transits

Officials said numerous merchant vessels bound for the Black Sea are anchored in the Sea of Marmara and unable to transit to their destinations, creating heavy congestion off Istanbul.

Marmara anchorage congestion

Data showed the buildup has filled anchorage areas around Istanbul, forcing ships to wait outside port approaches, officials said. The backlog follows a rise in security concerns affecting passage to the Black Sea and has constrained normal commercial traffic into and out of regional export points.

The main market channel at risk is agricultural commodities. The Black Sea supplies a material share of global wheat and vegetable oil shipments; delays to vessel movements raise the risk that cargo loading and scheduled sailings will be postponed, officials said. Ship queueing increases freight costs by extending voyage times and tying up tonnage that would otherwise rotate through export contracts.

Traders and logistics managers will be watching transit clearances closely: whether authorities clear passages and reduce anchorage congestion by September 20, 2026. If congestion persists past that date, shipping delays could push freight rates higher and tighten immediate shipment availability for buyers dependent on Black Sea cargoes.