Transport Minister Uraloğlu confirms monitoring 16 Turkish-owned ships in the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened regional tensions.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that they are closely monitoring developments in the Strait of Hormuz and the waterways in the region, saying, 'Although we do not have any Turkish-flagged ships in the region, we are closely watching 16 ships owned by Turkish nationals.'
Minister Uraloğlu made a statement regarding the developments in the Strait of Hormuz on his social media account.
Indicating that they are following the developments in the Strait of Hormuz and the waterways in the region moment by moment, Uraloğlu noted, 'As is known, due to the war in the Middle East, ship passages through the Strait of Hormuz have been halted since February 28. Currently, hundreds of ships are waiting in the Persian Gulf, and there are reports of damage on some commercial vessels.'
Uraloğlu drew attention to the fact that the region currently carries a high risk, reminding that they had previously raised the Security Level for Turkish-flagged vessels navigating in the region to Level 3 under the ISPS Code, and this level is still in effect.
He reported that they have informed the ships to closely follow navigation announcements and to urgently contact the Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center if needed, stating:
'Although we do not have any Turkish-flagged ships in the region, we are closely monitoring 16 ships owned by Turkish nationals. All these developments once again highlight the vital importance of preserving the principle of freedom of navigation, which is one of the fundamental principles of international maritime law. We will continue to resolutely take all necessary diplomatic and administrative measures to ensure the safety of our seafarers and the protection of our commercial fleet.'
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
