A new law just introduced in Turkey could mean thousands of sailors are
at risk of being fined more than £700, the Cruising Association (CA) has
revealed.

The Turkish government demands that everyone using their
waters must carry an Amateur Seaman’s Certificate which is issued after
an examination of more than 50 questions about sailing, weather, safety,
technical issues, marine communication, law and international
regulations.

But if the skipper of a leisure craft, sailing or motor,
carries an ICC – the International Certficate of Competence, they do
not need the Amateur Seaman’s Certificate.

A Government officer based
at Didim marina in Turkey, Batur Kumbaki, said the penalty for not
having the ASC was $1,000 and it applied to everyone using Turkish
waters, including those chartering boats on holiday.

The ICC, which was
only introduced in 1998, would be acceptable instead of the ASC.

Many
British boat owners already sailing there, who might not have the ICC
as they have been sailing for many years and do not know about the new
laws, could face immediate fines and have their boats impounded.

Grey water now banned from Turkish waters

Sailors venturing into Turkish waters now face immediate fines and the threat of their boats being impounded if they do not have grey water holding tanks.

While many countries have already introduced laws relating to black water holding tanks, so that no sewage is discharged into the sea, the Turkish government has gone one step further and bans all washing-up, shower and deck cleaning water from their waters.

The CA was asked by members to clarify the law after rumours had been circulating for more than a year about grey water.

Batur Kumbaki, a Turkish government officer based at Didim Marina in Turkey, said anyone seen to discharge black or grey water from their boats would face a fine of around $1,000 and their boats could be impounded.

A spokeswoman for the marina said the law had been in force for more than a year but it was only this year that sailors were beginning to take notice. She said spotter planes had been used to look for anyone discharging their tanks at sea.