Turkish Port Tariffs Decreased

In the drive to decrease the rates, Zaman had announced the evaluations of the sector concerning the issue under the title of "Astronomic Port Tariffs to be Decreased at Turkish Ports."

In the report, it was stated that a ship receiving service for $20,000 in Italy, has to pay high amounts like $55,000 in Istanbul, and for this reason cruise ships visited Turkey less often.

In a speech for the ceremony held in Istinye, Erdogan gave good news to ship owners. Noting the ports are very expensive compared to other countries, Erdogan said, "That’s why ships which do not draw near Turkey, go to either Italy or Greece. Now we are decreasing the prices 50 percent. Very different developments will follow the decrease later."

Meanwhile, transit fuel oil regulation studies conducted by the Finance and Navigation Under-Secretariat will be put into affect on January 1, 2004. After that, ships with Turkish flags just like foreign ships will be able to buy fuel oil without paying Special Consuming Tax. If the arrangement were put into effect today, ship owners would pay TL 650,000 per liter instead of paying TL 1,391,000.

Turhan Bozkurt / Istanbul / TURKEY