Reports of Turkish restrictions on vessels linked to Israel or those that have previously called at Israeli ports are raising alarms across the shipping industry. If fully enforced, the policy could disrupt short-sea container shuttle services, create bottlenecks in Israeli ports, and reshape cargo flows across the eastern Mediterranean.
The Scope of the Ban
Windward’s analysis indicates that 176 cargo vessels, including 76 container ships and two tankers, visited Israel within the last 180 days before calling at Turkey. These ships collectively made 763 port calls, with 77% being repeat calls. At least one containership has already rerouted, even though no official circular has confirmed the policy pointing to port agents as the enforcers.
The restrictions appear to target:
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Israeli-owned or linked vessels,
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Ships that previously called at Israel,
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Vessels carrying military or hazardous cargo bound for Israel.
Feeder trades operating regular short-sea services between Turkey and Israel are expected to face the greatest disruption.
Ripple Effects on Regional Ports
The impact is already being felt across the eastern Mediterranean. At Ashdod, transhipment rollovers increased by 27% on August 26 compared to the weekly average. Haifa, Israel’s busiest port, has seen rollovers surge by 47% and container delays rise by 62%, pointing to capacity bottlenecks.
Diversion effects are visible in neighboring hubs. Limassol (Cyprus) and Piraeus (Greece) are absorbing Israeli-bound cargo, but such shifts may stress their infrastructure and schedules.
Though not yet formalized through an official decree, Turkey’s reported ban could reshape trade routes across the Mediterranean. With 176 vessels potentially affected and early signs of congestion at Israeli ports, shippers may face significant delays and costs. Regional ports in Cyprus and Greece may benefit in the short term, but overall, the restrictions risk undermining supply chain stability in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
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Source: Windward
