On April 25, 2026, the Dardanelles Strait will close for 6 hours to ensure safety during the 7th International Yacht Races.
It has been reported that ship traffic will be temporarily halted in the Dardanelles Strait on April 25, 2026, as part of the 7th International Yacht Races organized by the Presidency. According to a previously published announcement, the strait will be closed to maritime traffic in both directions between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
The decision was made to ensure the safe conduct of the race organization. During the closure period, commercial vessels, passenger ships, and other marine vehicles will not be allowed to transit through the areas designated for the racecourse.
Authorities have called on ship captains, agents, and maritime businesses planning to transit the strait to rearrange their navigation schedules considering the specified time frame. It has been noted that there may be congestion in the area due to accumulated transit requests once traffic flow is reopened.
The Dardanelles Strait, as one of the strategically important transit points within the Turkish Straits system, hosts heavy commercial and transit ship traffic every year. Therefore, it has been recorded that the temporary closure is being closely monitored in terms of regional logistics planning.
The yacht races, which are expected to have international participation, are anticipated to present colorful scenes during the Çanakkale stage.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
