Coastal Shipping Law

Coastal Shipping Law is a foundational legal framework that establishes Türkiye’s will to regulate maritime activities within its territorial waters and reserve these activities exclusively for its own citizens, based on the principle of national sovereignty. The term “kabotaj”, adopted from the French word “cabotage”, is defined as a state’s right to operate vessels between its own ports. According to the Turkish Language Association, this is described as “the operation of vessels between a country’s piers or ports”; the right of coastal shipping is further defined as “the right to own, operate, and transport goods and passengers on vessels within Turkish waters, including rivers and lakes”.

National Waters, Two Times (Generated by Artificial Intelligence.)

Historical Background

The emergence of the Coastal Shipping Law must be understood as a consequence of the capitulations granted by the Ottoman Empire to foreign states, which resulted in the loss of significant portions of national trade to foreign entities. Through the Duyun-u Umumiye arrangements, the Ottoman State was compelled to entrust many maritime services, especially coastal transport, to foreign powers. This situation weakened Turkish shipping both technologically and economically.

Following the victory of the National Struggle, the Turkish delegation at the Lausanne Peace Conference viewed the right of coastal shipping as an extension of sovereignty and waged intense diplomatic efforts to secure its recognition. Foreign states argued that treaties dating from the Ottoman era remained valid and thus denied Türkiye the right. However, Articles 9, 10 and 11 of Section II of the Treaty of Lausanne, signed on 24 July 1923, granted Türkiye’s right of coastal shipping international legal validity.

Adoption and Content of the Law

The Coastal Shipping Law, officially titled Law on Maritime Transport Along the Coasts of Türkiye (Coastal Shipping) and on the Operation of Ports and Territorial Waters for Industry and Trade, was adopted on 19 June 1926, published in the Official Gazette on 29 April 1926, and came into effect on 1 July 1926 (No. 815).

According to Article 1, all cargo and passenger transport between ports along Türkiye’s coasts, as well as all port services, are reserved exclusively for vessels flying the Turkish flag. Foreign vessels are permitted only to carry goods between Turkish ports and foreign ports, or vice versa. Article 2 extends the right of coastal shipping to all inland waters, including rivers, lakes, the Sea of Marmara, and the straits, and grants this right exclusively to Turkish citizens. Article 3 reserves numerous professional activities—from fishing and diving to wreck removal and piloting—exclusively for Turkish nationals. Article 4 provides for certain temporary exceptions; Article 5 prescribes fines and imprisonment for violations of the law.

Economic and Political Significance

The implementation of the Coastal Shipping Law signified the effective and legal assertion of Türkiye’s sovereignty over its seas. The law realized the maritime sector’s concrete application of the national economic principles established at the 1923 İzmir Economic Congress.

Through this law, the development of the Turkish merchant fleet and the exclusion of foreign competition on coastal routes were prioritized, thereby encouraging the Turkish private sector and facilitating port and infrastructure investments. In this context, the Directorate General of Maritime Transport and Ports, a public institution, was established, and investments were made to connect ports with railways and link them to inland regions.

Coastal Shipping Day and Symbolic Meaning

The date of the law’s entry into force, 1 July, has been celebrated as Coastal Shipping Day since 1935; since 2007, its name has been changed to Maritime Day. This day is regarded as a symbol of Türkiye’s independence at sea and is commemorated annually with various events related to maritime affairs.