Turkey: Hazardous cargo transits Bosporous Straits hourly
|
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, January 17, 2005
ANKARA – Turkey has warned of a heightened security risk in the
Bosphorus Straits.
Officials said increased shipping through the Turkish Straits has
made them dangerously overcrowded.
"Each minute, 7-8 ships pass through the Bosporus, and one ship with
hazardous cargo does so every 50-55 minutes," Turkish Naval Forces commander
Adm. Ozden Ornek said. "The increased traffic in the straits is worrying
us."
[On Saturday, Turkey reported a clash between security forces and
insurgents in which seven people were killed, Middle East Newsline reported. A government statement said
two soldiers and five Maoist insurgents were killed in a gun battle in the
eastern province of Tunceli.]
Ornek said that during the first eight months of last year 100 million
tons of oil were transported through the Turkish
Straits. By the end of 2004, this figure was expected to reach 150 million
tons, or 9,300 ships. Istanbul, a city of 13 million, is located along the
straits.
"Even optimistic estimates show an 11 percent increase in the number of
ships and a 16 percent increase in the transportation of dangerous cargo,"
Ornek said.
The commander urged alternative transportation to ease overcrowding in
the Bosphorous. They include the use of pipelines to transport crude oil.
In November 2004, Russia filed a complaint with the International
Maritime Organization that accused Turkish authorities of blocking Russian
ships from moving through the Bosphorus. Turkish officials responded that
Ankara had exercised its right to defend the straits.
Copyright © 2005 East West
Services, Inc.
|