For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.
Türkiye has a vast network of ferries that connect its major cities and islands. These ferries are used by both tourists and locals for transportation, as well as for cargo and fishing.
The capacity of Turkish ferries varies, some ferries are small and can only carry a few dozen passengers, while others are large and can carry hundreds of people. The capacity of a ferry is determined by its size and the number of decks it has.
Overall, private ferryboat transport companies play an important role in moving cargo and passengers along the waterways of Türkiye. They face some challenges, but they are also taking steps to improve safety and security. In the future, private ferryboat transport is likely to become an even more important mode of transportation in Türkiye.
The Turkish government has been investing in the development of the private ferryboat industry in recent years. This investment has helped to improve the safety and reliability of private ferryboat services in Türkiye.
Currently, the Van Lake is the only commercially navigable inland waterway in Türkiye. Lake Van is 119 kilometres (74 mi) across at its widest point. It averages 171 metres (561 ft) deep. Its greatest known depth is 451 metres (1,480 ft). The surface lies 1,640 metres (5,380 ft) above sea level and the shore length is 430 kilometres (270 mi). It covers 3,755 km2 (1,450 sq mi) and contains (has a volume of) 607 cubic kilometres (146 cu mi). In addition to ferry service, there are also a number of tour operators that offer boat tours on Van Lake. These tours typically include visits to the ancient city of Akhtamar, the Van Fortress, and the surrounding villages.
Company Information
Ferryboat companies
İDO Istanbul Fast Ferries Co. Inc. (Turkish: İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri, meaning Istanbul Sea Buses) was founded in 1987 by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Originally established with a fleet of 10 seabuses built by the Kvaerner Fjellstrand shipyard of Norway, the İDO today has a fleet of 25 seabuses (with capacities ranging from 350 to 450 passengers) designed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand, Austal and the Damen Group; 10 high-speed car ferries (1200 passengers and 225 vehicles) designed by Austal and the Damen Group; 18 car ferries; 32 commuter ferries; and 1 large passenger ship. At present, the İDO is the world's largest commuter ferry operator with its 87-passenger ships and 86 piers.The company owns a total of 103 ships including its service vessels.
In 2011, the company was privatized for 30 years by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Find IDO fleet on the following website: https://www.ido.com.tr/services-new#filomuz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0DO routes and boats for IDO
Izdeniz- is a company owned by the government (city of Izmir), it’s the 2nd biggest company for domestic destinations and is operating only in Izmir and Egeian Sea.
At the moment the company has 13 Catamaran Type Passenger Ships, 2 High Speed Passenger Ships, 1 Passenger Ship, 1 Floating Facility and 5 Car Ferries 13 ferries (10 for the passengers and three for the vehicles.). which belong to Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and under the operational responsibility of Izdeniz.
The total number of daily passengers is over 50,000 and the vessels is over 1,500.
The terminals used by Izdeniz are the following: Alsancak, Bostanlı, Foça, Göztepe, Güzelbahçe, Karşıyaka, Konak, Pasaport and Üçkuyular.
Find Izdeniz fleet on the following website: http://www.izdeniz.com.tr/tr/gemiler_iskeleler/12/12
Izdeniz
Telephone: 0 232 320 00 35
Email: iletisim@izdeniz.com.tr
Website: https://www.izdeniz.com.tr
Address: Bahçelerarası Mahallesi , Haydar Aliyev Bulvarı No: 4 Balçova / İZMİR
Akgunler Denizcilik – It is private owned company and has 3 sea buses, 2 roro and 1 roro / passenger ships. Akgünler Denizcilik is the largest passenger and cargo carrying capacity company in the southern part of Türkiye to Northern Cyprus which operates from the port of Mersin and Tasucu.
All vessels are equipped with International Safety Management Certificate (ISMC) and the International Ship and Safety Certificate (ISPSC).
Ports to which Akgünler Denizcilik Company serves: Mersin, Magusa, Girne, Taşucu.
http://www.akgunlerdenizcilik.com/
Akgunler Denizcilik
http://www.akgunlerdenizcilik.com/filomuz/
Şehir Hatları Traditional Ferries - These are the big traditional Istanbul passenger ferryboats beloved by Istanbullus, serving cross-Bosphorus routes, northern Bosphorus ring routes, and the traditional Bosphorus cruise routes. Şehir Hatları carries out 600 trips per day with 50 ship terminals and 28 ferries, transporting around 40 million passengers per year.
Find Şehir Hatları fleet on the following website:
https://www.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en/ferries
İSTANBUL ŞEHİR HATLARI TURİZM SAN. ve TİC. AŞ.
Address : Bedrettin Mh. Evliya Çelebi Cad.No: 63 / A ( Haliç Tersanesi ) Kasımpaşa Beyoğlu / İSTANBUL
Zip Code : 34440
Phone : (0212) 313 80 00
Fax : (0212) 253 94 75
E-mail : info@sehirhatlari.istanbul
TurYol - TurYol operates the most frequent 1-1/2-hour Bosphorus cruises, departing Eminönü on the hour, with additional voyages from Üsküdar and Kadıköy. TurYol commuter ferries connect Galata Bridge with the Asian suburbs of Üsküdar, Kadıköy and other destinations. Turyol is a private ferry operator, which owns and operates urban and international ferry service in western Türkiye, focused primarily around Istanbul. It is one of three private ferry operators in Istanbul, along with İDO and Dentur. Turyol maintains a fleet of 70 vessels, 60 of which are for scheduled passenger service. In terms of fleet size and number of lines, Turyol is the largest private ferry operator in Türkiye and second largest overall, after the Istanbul Municipality's ferry operator Şehir Hatları.
Find TurYol fleet on the following website:
https://www.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en/ferries
TurYol
Address: Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mah. Necatibey Cad. Akçe Sk. No:3, 34425 Karaköy/Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Phone: +90-212-251 44 21
Fax: +90 212 251 96 74
Email: info@turyol.com
Ferryboat company at Van Lake
The main service provider on Van Lake is Van Gölü Feribot/Van Lake Ferry, which operates a fleet of ferries that connect the towns of Van, Gevaş, and Tatvan. The ferries are used to transport passengers, cars, and goods. The transportation on Lake Van and the railway connection between Tatvan and Van were made by 4 ferries operated by TCDD and manufactured between 1971-1976.
Carrying capacity and cruising speed increased, fuel consumption decreased… While 1,500 tons of cargo was transported per day with 4 existing ferries, each with a capacity of 9-10 wagons, 10,500 tons of cargo was transported per day with 2 new ferries, each with a capacity of 50 wagons, thus increasing the load carrying capacity 7 times.
Each ferry has a passenger capacity of 350 people. The cruise time between Tatvan and Van, which has a cruising distance of 49 miles (91 km), decreased from 5 hours with the old ferries to 3.5 hours with the new ferries.
Port Operator: TC State Railways General Directorate (TCDD)
Address: TCDD Van Lake Ferry Directorate Tatvan / Bitlis
Phone: 0434 827 80 40
Fax: 0434 827 80 43
https://www.tcdd.gov.tr/kurumsal/van-golu-feribot
https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/istanbul/transport/istanbulferry.html
For more information on waterway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List.
Passenger Carrying Capacity
|
|
IDO |
Izdeniz |
Akgünler Denizcilik |
Şehir Hatları |
TurYol |
Van Lake ferry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of Passenger Vessels < 20 Passengers |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Number of Passenger Vessels < 50 Passengers |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
None |
|
Number of Passenger Vessels < 100 Passengers |
None |
None |
None |
None |
2 types |
None |
|
Number of Passenger Vessels > 100 Passengers |
33 |
6 |
16 |
6 types |
Approx. 60 |
7 |
Passenger Carrying Capacity
|
|
IDO |
Izdeniz |
Akgünler Denizcilik |
Şehir Hatları |
TurYol |
Van Lake ferry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Boats |
||||||
|
Number of Boats |
Seabus - 25 Fast Ferry - 10 Conventional Passenger Boat - 38 Conventional Vehicle Boat - 17 Motorboat - 7 Sea Taxies – 6 TOTAL - 103 |
13 Catamaran Type Passenger Ships 2 High Speed Passenger Ships 1 Passenger Ship 1 Floating Facility 5 Car Ferries |
4 types |
6 types |
70 |
7 |
|
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (MT / m3) |
Seabus – 490 to 1200 pax Fast Ferry – 350 to 450 Conventional Passenger Boat - 750 to 2100 Conventional Vehicle Boat – 600 passengers + 66 to 112 vehicles |
|
Via Mare – 343 passengers, 46 trucks or 260 saloon vehicles Flying Phoenix - 12 passenger vehicles and 396 passengers Akgunler 3 - 384 passengers Via Famagusta - 41 trucks
|
6 types of passenger ferryboats:
600 pax |
Various capacities: from 62 to 850 pax. |
|
|
Barges |
|
|||||
|
Number of Barges |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (MT / m3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tugs |
|
|||||
|
Number of Tugs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tonnage / Volume Carrying Capacity (MT / m3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travel Time Matrix
Travel Time from Main port to other major Ports on various vessel/ferryboats types (hrs)
|
|
Beşiktaş |
Bursa |
Midilli/ Lesbos
|
İzmir Alsancak |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Beşiktaş |
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Bursa |
NA |
|
2:00 |
NA |
2:30 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
NA |
2:00 |
|
1:30 |
0:30 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
NA |
NA |
1:10 |
|
NA |
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
NA |
2:30 |
0:30 |
NA |
|
N/A |
N/A |
|
|
Midilli/ Lesbos |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
1:45 |
|
İzmir Alsancak |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
1:45 |
|
Key Routes
Key Route Information: Domestic / International
|
|
From: Yenikapı To: Bursa |
From: Pendik To: Yalova |
From: Istanbul (Sarayburnu) To: Avsa Island |
From: İzmir Alsancak To: Midilli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total Distance (km) |
80 minutes |
45 minutes |
Istanbul-Marmara Island-Avsa Island - 5 hours to Marmara Island; 5.5 hours to Avşa |
1:45 hrs |
|
Width (m)
|
|
|
|
|
|
River Flow (m³ / second) |
|
|
|
|
|
Seasonal Effects |
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum Weight and Size of Vessels |
|
|
|
|
|
Regular Traffic Passenger / Cargo |
|
|
|
|
|
Companies Operating Along the Route |
|
|
|
|
|
Security Concerns |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Main Ports |
|
|
|
|
Port Information
Key Port Information
|
|
Beşiktaş |
İzmir Alsancak |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Location |
Istanbul |
Istanbul |
Izmir |
|
Contact Information |
|
|
|
|
Connections with Other Transport Means |
Road / Near Railways |
Road / Near Railways |
Road / Near Railways |
|
Storage Capacity (m2 and m3) |
|
|
|
|
Handling Equipment |
|
|
|
|
Customs Clearance Available |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Other Comments |
|
|
|
