Turkey · Black Sea ↔ Mediterranean
Bosporus Strait — Ship Transits Today
Daily vessel transits through the Bosporus Strait, by ship type, compared with the same week last year. Updated daily.
Daily transits, last 90 days
By vessel type
Ships/day, 7-day average| Type | Ships/day |
|---|---|
| Container ships | 5.3 |
| Tankers | 15.9 |
| Dry bulk | 7.1 |
| General cargo | 24.9 |
| Ro-ro | 0.6 |
Cargo-carrying capacity transiting (deadweight) is -50% against the same week last year.
About the Bosporus Strait
The Bosporus, with the Dardanelles, is the only sea route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Grain from Ukraine and Russia and crude and products from Black Sea ports all pass through Istanbul.
Fog, currents and Turkish traffic rules regularly suspend large-ship transits for hours; tanker queues build up on both sides.
Source: IMF PortWatch daily chokepoint transits, built from satellite AIS by the IMF and the University of Oxford.
Shipping through the Bosporus Strait? Track your container or vessel free with Shyppy — live position, ETA changes and rollover alerts. Compare routings with the sea distance calculator, or see all chokepoints.
Questions
How many ships pass through the Bosporus Strait per day?
In the 7 days to 25 October 2026, an average of 53.7 vessels a day transited the Bosporus Strait, compared with 101 a day in the same week last year (-47%).
Is the Bosporus Strait open?
Yes — ships were transiting the Bosporus Strait in the latest data (25 October 2026). Traffic is currently far below normal compared with last year.
What disrupts traffic through the Bosporus Strait?
Fog, currents and Turkish traffic rules regularly suspend large-ship transits for hours; tanker queues build up on both sides.
Where does this data come from?
IMF PortWatch, which counts vessel crossings from satellite AIS. Shyppy refreshes it daily and compares the 7-day average with the same week a year earlier.
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