In the third quarter of this year, the Bosphorus Strait A total of 9,754 ships have been crossed, with a significant increase of +10.8% over the corresponding period of 2022 when the maritime traffic had suffered a reduction of -8.9% on the same quarter of 2021 due to the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine on naval activity in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The Total transits recorded in the period July-September 2023 represent increases of +1.0% and +4.4% respectively on third quarters of 2021 and 2020 when the conflict flared up It was still a long way off, but maritime transport was feeling the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic and represents a decline in the -7.1% on the third quarter of 2019 when the health crisis had not yet begun.

In the third quarter of this year, the most consistent type of vessel transiting the Bosphorus Strait, that of the general cargo units, totalled 3,716 vessels, down -5.4% on the third quarter of 2022 and with decreases of -11.1%, -10.0% and -20.5% respectively on third quarters of 2021, 2020 and 2019. On the other hand, ships are growing tanks, which amounted to 2,206 units (respectively +4.5%, +11.0%, +14.5% and -1.0%), as well as bulk carriers stood at 2,016 units, an increase of +17.8% on the July-September 2022 but with decreases of -14.6%, -9.5% and -17.2% on the third quarters of 2021, 2020 and 2019. Transits of container ships were 887 (+62.2%, +39.9%, +46.4% and +38.6%) and those of Ro-RO 113 vessels (+59.2%, +56.9%, +145.7% and +82.3%). In There was a marked increase in the number of passenger ship transits, which amounted to 158 naval units (+409.7%, +112.5%, +1,028.6% and +143.1%).

In the first nine months of 2023, the Bosphorus Strait A total of 29,092 ships were crossed, with a growing by +12.6% over the January-September period last year.