Fog forces closure of Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait to ships on Sunday, Jan. 26
Heavy fog on Sunday, Jan 26, 2014 forced the closure of Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait, a vital route for Russian oil and other commodities, to shipping traffic. Five tankers were waiting to travel north at the mouth of the narrow strait, which links the Black Sea with the Mediterranean. Traffic at the Dardanelles at the other end of the Sea of Marmara was unaffected. Reduced visibility due to poor weather in the winter frequently requires maritime officials to shut the Bosphorus, disrupting the flow of Russian oil and grain to world markets.
Heavy fog on Sunday, Jan 26, 2014 forced the closure of Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait, a vital route for Russian oil and other commodities, to shipping traffic. Five tankers were waiting to travel north at the mouth of the narrow strait, which links the Black Sea with the Mediterranean. Traffic at the Dardanelles at the other end of the Sea of Marmara was unaffected. Reduced visibility due to poor weather in the winter frequently requires maritime officials to shut the Bosphorus, disrupting the flow of Russian oil and grain to world markets.