Latest: Dry Bulk Carrier Breakdown Halts Traffic in the Bosporus Strait! 最新！干散货船故障致使博斯普鲁斯海峡停运！

History repeats itself again! According to a report by Reuters, on March 19, a dry bulk carrier flying the flag of Vanuatu lost power due to engine mechanical failure while navigating the northern channel of the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul. This led to the suspension of two-way maritime traffic in the strait.

历史再次重演！据路透社报道（Reuters），当地时间3月19日，一艘悬挂瓦努阿图旗的干散货船在通过伊斯坦布尔市区的海峡北向航道时，因引擎机械故障失去动力，导致海峡双向航运被迫暂停。

The involved vessel, which was en route from Turkey's Iskenderun Port to Romania, experienced a sudden malfunction in the Kuzguncuk area. Subsequently, it anchored near the waters of the "July 15 Martyrs Bridge" (formerly known as the Bosporus Bridge), a vital link between the European and Asian continents. With the ship stranded at a critical point in the channel, the Turkish Coast Guard immediately launched an emergency response, dispatching tugs and pilots to the scene. After several hours of rescue efforts, the ship was towed to the Ahirkapi Anchorage Area, and the north-south channel was subsequently restored to one-way traffic. The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed that the incident did not result in any casualties or environmental pollution.

涉事货轮从土耳其伊斯肯德伦港出发，计划驶往罗马尼亚。土耳其航运代理公司称，该船在通过库兹贡库克（Kuzguncuk）区域时突发故障，随后在连接欧亚大陆的“7月15日烈士大桥”（原名博斯普鲁斯大桥）附近水域抛锚。由于货轮卡在航道关键位置，土耳其海岸安全总局立即启动应急响应，派出拖轮和引航员前往现场。经数小时救援，货轮被拖至阿希尔卡皮锚地（Ahirkapi Anchorage Area），南向北向航道随后恢复单向通行。土耳其交通与基础设施部确认，事故未造成人员伤亡或环境污染。

A similar vessel power failure occurred in this location on August 25, 2024. At that time, a Panama-flagged oil tanker, traveling from Russia's Novorossiysk to Benghazi in Libya, experienced engine trouble at the northern entrance of the Bosporus Strait, blocking this key waterway.

曾在2024年8月25日， 该地发生了同样的船舶动力故障。某艘悬挂巴拿马国旗的油轮当时正从俄罗斯的新罗西斯克前往利比亚的班加西，该船只在博斯普鲁斯海峡的北入口航行时发动机出现故障，堵塞了这一关键航道。

The recurrence of engine failure in the Bosporus Strait highlights the vulnerability of this strategic waterway. Why can a single vessel power failure cause the suspension of two-way traffic in the strait? Let's delve into the geographical location, natural conditions, and other factors of the Bosporus Strait to understand this issue.

博斯普鲁斯海峡再遇引擎故障，暴露了这一战略水道的脆弱性。为何船舶动力故障就可致海峡双向航道受阻，接下来，我们将从博斯普鲁斯海峡的地理位置、自然条件等因素一探究竟！

The Bosporus Strait – One of the World's Busiest Waterways

一、博斯普鲁斯海峡——世界上最繁忙的航道之一

The Bosporus Strait connects the Black Sea to the north with the Sea of Marmara to the south. It is a crucial passage between Europe and Asia, with the Turkish city of Istanbul straddling the strait and facing the Anatolian Peninsula. It serves as the primary gateway for Black Sea coastal countries to access the open sea and is the only route connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, Russia's Black Sea Fleet must pass through the Bosporus Strait to reach the Mediterranean. For Russia and other Black Sea coastal countries, the Bosporus Strait is a vital channel for exporting oil, natural gas, and other energy resources to the global market.

博斯普鲁斯海峡北连黑海，南通马尔马拉海，博斯普鲁斯海峡乃欧亚咽喉，土耳其人戏称其“一手拎亚一手拎欧”。土耳其第一大城伊斯坦布尔即隔着博斯普鲁斯海峡与小亚细亚半岛相望，是黑海沿岸国家出海第一关口，也是连接黑海以及地中海的唯一航道。因此，俄罗斯的黑海舰队必须通过博斯普鲁斯海峡才能前往地中海。于俄罗斯和其他黑海沿岸国家而言，博斯普鲁斯海峡是石油、天然气等能源出口到全球市场的重要通道。

The Bosporus Strait has five transportation routes: the July 15 Martyrs Bridge, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, the Eurasia Tunnel (completed in 2016), and the Marmaray Tunnel for rail transport.

博斯普鲁斯海峡有五条运输通道，分别为公路使用的7月15日烈士大桥、穆罕默德二世大桥、亚武兹苏丹塞利姆大桥、欧亚隧道（2016年完工）以及铁路使用的马尔马雷隧道。

Historically, the Bosporus Strait was the Asian terminus of the ancient Maritime Silk Road. Since the Greek colonization period in the 5th century BC, it has been a vital link between the European and Asian continents. During the Byzantine Empire (330-1453), the strait was a core node for the transportation of silk, spices, and porcelain from China via the Black Sea to Europe. In the Ottoman Empire period (1453-1922), Istanbul (formerly known as Constantinople), as the endpoint of the Silk Road, handled over 2 million piculs of goods annually, accounting for 60% of the Mediterranean trade volume. This historical legacy has made it the world's only waterway that combines cultural heritage and strategic functions.

历史上，博斯普鲁斯海峡是古代海上丝绸之路的亚洲终点。自公元前5世纪希腊殖民时期起，便成为连接欧亚大陆的咽喉要道。拜占庭帝国时期（330-1453年），该海峡是丝绸、香料与瓷器从中国经黑海运抵欧洲的核心节点。奥斯曼帝国时期（1453-1922年），伊斯坦布尔（旧称君士坦丁堡）作为丝路终点，每年处理超200万担货物，占地中海贸易总量的60%。这种历史积淀使其成为全球唯一兼具文化遗产与战略功能的航道。

Image Credit：Internet

图源网络

Narrow Waterway with a Meandering Course

The Bosporus Strait is approximately 30 kilometers long, with a maximum width of about 3,700 meters and a narrowest point of about 700 meters. Its channel follows an "S" shape, with an 80-degree sharp turn in the northern section (such as the area from Yenikoy to Sariyer). Large vessels need to frequently adjust their course, which can easily lead to deviation or collision due to inertia.

狭窄水道与蜿蜒走向

博斯普鲁斯海峡长约30公里，最宽处宽约3,700米，最窄处宽约700米。其航道呈“S”形弯曲，北部区域存在80度的急转弯（如Yenikoy至Sariyer段），大型船舶需频繁调整航向，易因惯性导致偏航或碰撞。

Dynamic Changes in Water Depth and Channel Width

The average depth of the strait ranges from 36 to 80 meters. However, some shoals (such as the Kandilli Shoal) have a minimum depth of only 27.5 meters, while the deepest point reaches 124 meters. This variation in water depth requires ships to select specific channels based on their draft.

水深与航道宽度的动态变化

海峡平均水深36-80米，但部分浅滩（如Kandilli浅滩）最小水深仅27.5米，而最深处可达124米。这种水深差异要求船舶根据吃水深度选择特定航道。

Vessel Traffic Pressure

The Bosporus Strait ranks high in terms of vessel traffic. According to a global survey of key straits' vessel traffic in 2023, the Singapore Strait topped the list with 175,000 vessels passing through. The Bosporus Strait had 36,100 vessels in the past year, ranking 14th globally. Its annual vessel traffic is about 1.5 times that of the Suez Canal, making it one of the world's busiest waterways.

船舶通航压力

博斯普鲁斯海峡船舶通行数量排名靠前。2023年全球关键海峡船舶通行数量进行统计，新加坡海峡以 17.5 万艘船舶的通行数量排名第一，博斯普鲁斯海峡过去一年船舶通行数量为 3.61 万艘，排名全球第 14 名，年度船舶通行数量约为苏伊士运河的1.5 倍，是世界上最繁忙的航道之一。

Vessel Traffic Volume in Major Throat Areas Over the Past Year (Unit: Vessels)

主要咽喉地区近一年通过船舶数量（单位：艘）

Data Source: Huatai Futures Research Institute

数据来源：华泰期货研究院

Dual Challenges of the Stratified Current System

二、分层海流系统的双重挑战

Two-Way Stratified Water Flow Mechanism

The salinity difference between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara creates a unique current system: the upper layer (0-20 meters) flows southward at a speed of 2-3 knots, while the lower layer (below 40 meters) flows in the opposite direction at 1-1.5 knots. This stratification reduces the steering efficiency of ships, especially when turning, requiring additional power to counteract the impact of the current.

Local Turbulence and Vortex Risks

In narrow areas such as Kandilli and Arnavutköy, the current speed can suddenly increase to 4 knots and form vortices with diameters of 50-100 meters. For example, in 2022, a bulk carrier in the Arnavutköy waters experienced rudder failure due to a vortex, deviating from the channel by nearly 200 meters. This phenomenon is particularly significant during the spring snowmelt period when the input of freshwater from the Black Sea increases.

双向分层水流机制

黑海与马尔马拉海的盐度差异形成独特的水流系统：上层（0-20米）水流以2-3节速度自北向南流动，下层（40米以下）则以1-1.5节速度逆向流动。这种分层导致船舶舵效下降，尤其在转弯时需额外动力抵消水流冲击。

局部湍流与涡旋风险

在Kandilli、Arnavutköy等狭窄区域，水流速度可骤增至4节，并形成直径50-100米的涡旋。例如，2022年一艘散货船在Arnavutköy水域因涡旋导致舵机失灵，偏离航道近200米。此类现象在春季融雪期黑海淡水输入增加时尤为显著。

Unpredictable Meteorological Conditions – Increased Natural Risks for Navigation

Visibility Restrictions and Fog Season Risks

The strait experiences an average of 68 foggy days per year, mainly concentrated from November to March of the following year. During heavy fog, horizontal visibility can drop below 500 meters, forcing authorities to suspend navigation. On January 23, 2022, two-way traffic was interrupted for 12 hours due to visibility below 0.8 kilometers, causing 47 vessels to be stranded.

Strong Winds and Extreme Weather Events

The region is prone to northeast and southwest winds, with maximum wind speeds reaching 24 knots (approximately 44 kilometers per hour). Strong winds not only increase the difficulty of ship handling but also trigger short-term storm surges with wave heights of 1.5-2 meters.

三、气象条件的不可预见性——自然风险加剧通航难度

能见度限制与雾季风险

海峡年均雾日达68天，集中在11月至次年3月。浓雾时水平能见度可降至500米以下，迫使当局暂停通航。2022年1月23日，因能见度低于0.8公里，双向交通中断长达12小时，造成47艘船舶滞留。

强风与极端天气事件

海峡区域盛行东北风和西南风，最大风速可达24节（约44公里/小时）。强风不仅增加操船难度，还会引发浪高1.5-2米的短时风暴潮。

Dry Bulk Transport: The "Lifeline" of Global Trade

The Bosporus Strait is the only waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, linking the trade of Black Sea coastal countries (such as Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia) with Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The export of agricultural products from Russia and Ukraine relies heavily on the Bosporus Strait.

Trade Volume and Cargo Distribution

According to the annual statistics from the Turkish Ministry of Transport, the total value of goods handled in the Bosporus Strait is about 16 trillion US dollars annually, with dry bulk cargo accounting for 31% (including grains, coal, ore, fertilizers, etc.).

Grains: Ukrainian corn and Russian wheat. In the global context, both countries have a high proportion of grain exports, with Ukraine's corn exports being particularly significant.

Industrial Raw Materials: Iron ore from Kazakhstan and cement exports from Turkey.

Energy-Related: Coal from Russia.

As the only passage connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, the export of energy and agricultural products from Black Sea coastal countries such as Ukraine and Russia is highly dependent on this strait. The high volume of dry bulk vessels passing through annually is evident from the following chart:

四、干散货运输：全球贸易的“咽喉要道”

博斯普鲁斯海峡是全球唯一连接黑海与地中海的水道，承载着黑海沿岸国家（俄罗斯、乌克兰、格鲁吉亚等）与欧洲、中东、亚洲的贸易联系，俄罗斯、乌克兰农产品出口依赖博斯普鲁斯海峡。

贸易规模与货类分布：据土耳其运输部年度统计，博斯普鲁斯海峡年处理商品总值约16万亿美元，其中干散货占比达31%（包含谷物、煤炭、矿石、化肥等）。

粮食类：乌克兰玉米、俄罗斯小麦；放在全球范围来看，俄乌两国谷物出口占比均较高，其中玉米出口主，要集中在乌克兰；

工业原料：哈萨克斯坦铁矿石、土耳其本地水泥出口；

能源相关：俄罗斯煤炭。

作为连接连接黑海与地中海的唯一通道，黑海沿岸国家如乌克兰、俄罗斯的能源与农产品出口高度依赖此航道，全年干散货船的通行数可达上万艘，其2019年至2024年3月的干散货船舶通行量之高可见下图：

Data Source: Huatai Futures Research Institute

数据来源：华泰期货研究院

Data Source: Huatai Futures Research Institute

数据来源：华泰期货研究院

Solutions to Alleviate Strait Congestion

As the only strategic waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, the congestion problem in the Bosporus Strait is an inevitable result of geographical limitations. Based on the Montreux Convention, the Turkish government strictly regulates and attempts to manage the Bosporus Strait through the following measures:

五、海峡拥堵破局方案

作为连接黑海与地中海的唯一战略水道，博斯普鲁斯海峡的拥堵问题是地理限制的必然产物。土耳其政府基于《蒙特勒公约》实施严格管控，对博斯普鲁斯海峡进行：

Traffic Restrictions and Diversion Attempts

Nighttime Navigation Ban: Vessels longer than 200 meters (including most dry bulk carriers) are prohibited from navigating at night, resulting in an average effective navigation time of only 14 hours per day.

Hazardous Cargo Diversion: Oil tankers are required to navigate along the Asian coastline, maintaining a distance of 1.5 kilometers from the European shore to avoid polluting Istanbul's water intake points.

Canal Alternative Plan: Although the Istanbul Canal project has been put on hold due to environmental controversies, its construction could potentially divert vessels and alleviate pressure on the main channel.

（1）通航限制与分流尝试

夜间禁航：长度超200米的船舶（涵盖多数干散货船）禁止夜间通行，导致日均有效通航时间仅14小时；

危险品分流：原油船需沿亚洲海岸线航行，与欧洲岸线保持1.5公里距离，以避免污染伊斯坦布尔取水口；

运河替代方案：伊斯坦布尔运河计划虽因环保争议搁置，但建成后或可分流船舶，缓解主航道压力。

International Capital and Technological Input

Japanese Support: Japan has provided a loan of 19.62 billion yen to support the construction of the undersea railway (data source: Realizing a 150-Year-Old Dream in Turkey) and transferred core technology for deep-water immersed tube construction.

German Technical Contribution: A German company has customized a hybrid shield machine with a diameter of 13.7 meters for the Eurasia Tunnel, breaking through construction limits. Since the end of 2016, approximately 100,000 vehicles pass through the two-lane double-deck tunnel of the Eurasia Tunnel daily, significantly reducing the travel time between continents from 100 minutes to just 15 minutes and alleviating the long-standing traffic congestion in Istanbul.

（2）国际资本与技术输入

日本提供196.2亿日元贷款支持海底铁路建设（数据源于Realizing a 150-Year-Old Dream in Turkey），并转让深水沉管核心技术；

图源：Bosphorus Strait Trans-strait Railway Construction Project

博斯普鲁斯海峡海底铁路示意图

Schematic Diagram of the Bosporus Strait Undersea Railway

德国某公司为欧亚公路隧道定制直径13.7米的混合盾构机，突破施工极限。自2016年年底起，每天将约有10万车辆通过欧亚隧道的两车道双层隧道在两洲间穿梭。它将大大缓解伊斯坦布尔长期堵塞的交通状况，并将行车时间从现在的100分钟缩减至仅15分钟。

Conclusion

The recent vessel power failure that caused the suspension of two-way traffic in the Bosporus Strait once again highlights the vulnerability of this global supply chain "lifeline." Although Turkey's rapid emergency response mechanism has mitigated the impact of the incident, it has still caused certain disruptions to the region's cargo transportation and trade, affecting many countries that rely on this waterway for imports and exports. In the future, the shipping industry needs to strike a more delicate balance between efficiency, safety, and cost – a challenge not only for the Bosporus but also a common issue in the era of globalization.

结语

此次船舶动力故障，致使博斯普鲁斯海峡双向停运事件，再次凸显全球供应链“咽喉要道”的脆弱性。尽管土耳其快速应急机制建设降低了事故影响，但对整个地区的货物运输和贸易造成了一定的冲击，许多依赖这条水道进行进出口的国家将受到影响。未来，航运业需在效率、安全与成本之间寻求更精细的平衡——这不仅是博斯普鲁斯的挑战，更是全球化时代共同课题。