Is the Bosphorus an international waterway?

Question

When you drive a ship from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, do you need permission from Turkey, or is the Bosphorus international waters?

Answer 1

Yes, it's open to international shipping that can go through without Turkey's approval.

Answer 2

The world's narrowest strait (bosphorous) used for international navigation, it connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara (which is connected by the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea, and thereby to the Mediterranean Sea).  but it is not international waters - it is turkey's waters and one would need Turkey coast guard approval while passing.

Answer 3

The correct answer is that it is similar to international waters.

The straits operate under the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Turkish Straits of July 1936.

The Bosporus straits are considered international waterways and Turkey is prohibited from restricting their commercial use in peacetime. Turkish maritime authorities can check ships for sanitary conditions and safety and can charge tolls, but cannot stop their passage.

Turkey does retain the right to restrict the naval traffic of non-Black Sea nations.

So for merchant shipping no permission is needed unless there is a war going on.

Article 1 of the Treaty provides that "The High Contracting Parties recognise and affirm the principle of freedom of passage and navigation by sea in the Straits". Article 2 states that "In time of peace, merchant vessels shall enjoy complete freedom of passage and navigation in the Straits, by day and by night, under any flag with any kind of cargo."

Answer 4

Is is kind of.  In peace time NON military ships can pass freely by international agreement.  Military ships should always get permission from the Turks.  In war times all bets are off.

Answer 5

It is a waterway that intersects Turkey, also called the Istanbul waterway or canal. I would think that if you are crossing turkish territory you would need permission to do so. It forms the boundary between the European side of Turkey and the Asian side of it.  

Answer 6

Yes, it is.