# Kanal Instanbul Project **URL:** \ **Category:** Proposed\ **Created:** [April 5, 2022, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167 "2022-04-05T00:08:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mcart](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.newyorkyimby.com/mcart/32/84718_2.png) [@mcart](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/u/mcart)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167/1 "2022-04-05T00:08:56Z")
> **[Istanbul Canal](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal)** > > The Istanbul Canal (Turkish: Kanal İstanbul) is a project for an artificial sea-level waterway, which is planned by Turkey on East Thrace, connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, and thus to the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Istanbul Canal would bisect the current European side of Istanbul and thus form an island between Asia and Europe (the island would have a shoreline with the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, the new canal and the Bosporus). The new waterway would bypass the current Bosp Th... [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-01/turkey-eyes-build-and-operate-model-for-planned-istanbul-canal](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-01/turkey-eyes-build-and-operate-model-for-planned-istanbul-canal) > **[The wild logistics of the Istanbul Canal megaproject](https://www.wired.co.uk/article/istanbul-canal-logistics)** > > From the stench of rotten eggs to sea snot as far as the eye can see, Istanbul’s grand canal project has some serious issues to overcome ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/yimby/original/3X/8/a/8ab90919693a82e89cb473e36c27eae478bc1abb.png) The **Istanbul Canal** ([Turkish](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_language): _Kanal İstanbul_ ) is a project for an artificial [sea-level](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea-level) waterway, which is planned by [Turkey](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey) on [East Thrace](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Thrace), connecting the [Black Sea](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea) to the [Sea of Marmara](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Marmara), and thus to the [Aegean](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegean_Sea) and [Mediterranean](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea) seas. Istanbul Canal would bisect the current European side of [Istanbul](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul) and thus form an island between [Asia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia) and [Europe](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe) (the island would have a shoreline with the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, the new canal and the [Bosporus](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosporus)).[[1]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal#cite_note-1) The new waterway would bypass the current Bosporus. The canal aims to minimise shipping traffic in the Bosporus. It is projected to have a capacity of 160 vessel transits a day – similar to the current volume of traffic through the Bosporus, where traffic congestion leaves ships queuing for days to transit the strait. Some analysts have speculated the main reason for the construction of the canal was to bypass the [Montreux Convention](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreux_Convention_Regarding_the_Regime_of_the_Straits), which limits the number and tonnage of warships from non-Black Sea powers that could enter the sea via the Bosporus, as well as prohibiting tolls on traffic passing through it.[[2]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal#cite_note-:0-2) In January 2018, Turkish Prime Minister [Binali Yıldırım](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binali_Y%C4%B1ld%C4%B1r%C4%B1m) announced that Istanbul Canal would not be subject to the Montreux Convention.[[2]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal#cite_note-:0-2) The Istanbul Canal project also includes the construction of ports (a large container terminal in the Black Sea, close to the [Istanbul Airport](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Airport)), logistic centres and artificial islands to be integrated with the canal, as well as the construction of new earthquake-resistant residential areas along the channel.[[3]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal#cite_note-HurriyetJan2020-3) The artificial islands are to be built using soil dug for the canal. Transport projects to be integrated with the canal project include the Halkali-Kapikule high-speed train, the TCDD train project, the Yenikapi-Sefakoy-Beylikduzu and Mahmutbey-Esenyurt metro lines in Istanbul and the D-100 highway crossing, Tem highway and Sazlibosna highway. Financing the canal is expected to be via a [build-operate-transfer](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Build-operate-transfer) model, but could also be funded through [public-private partnerships](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-private_partnerships). The government is expecting to generate US$8 billion in revenue per year from Istanbul Canal, thanks in part to a service fee for transits.[[4]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal#cite_note-4) Critics, such as [Korkut Boratav](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korkut_Boratav), have questioned this number and said that the net revenues could be negative.[[5]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal#cite_note-5) Other criticisms include the need to direct resources for focusing on earthquake readiness and addressing economic issues,[[6]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal#cite_note-6)[[7]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Canal#cite_note-7) and potential negative environmental impacts. ---
**Author:** ![Waymond\_Womano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.newyorkyimby.com/waymond_womano/32/7078_2.png) [@Waymond\_Womano](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/u/Waymond_Womano)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167/2 "2022-10-10T22:45:26Z")
> **[Freight costs rise as Turkey eyes multimodal infrastructure via Istanbul Canal...](https://theloadstar.com/istanbul-canal-could-see-transit-fees-grow-as-turkey-eyes-multimodal-infrastructure/)** > > For the first time in nearly 40 years, Turkey will increase the fees for ships transiting the Bosphorus on 7 October, by 500%, to $4/tonne. This, however, is just the start of price hikes for vessels transiting the Turkish Straits. In June 2021,... ---
**Author:** ![Waymond\_Womano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.newyorkyimby.com/waymond_womano/32/7078_2.png) [@Waymond\_Womano](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/u/Waymond_Womano)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2022, 11:06pm UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167/3 "2022-10-24T23:06:34Z")
> **[Turkey Continues Feasibility Studies For Istanbul Canal - Erdogan - UrduPoint](https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/turkey-continues-feasibility-studies-for-ista-1578553.html)** > > Turkey continues to work on planning and running feasibility studies for the Istanbul Canal, a massive waterway project intended as an alternative to the Bosporus Strait, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.In the coming days and... ---
**Author:** ![Waymond\_Womano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.newyorkyimby.com/waymond_womano/32/7078_2.png) [@Waymond\_Womano](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/u/Waymond_Womano)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167/4 "2024-02-19T00:46:07Z")
> **[Turkey's Canal Istanbul Megaproject Hits Legal Snag](https://gcaptain.com/turkeys-canal-istanbul-megaproject-hits-legal-snag/)** > > By Beril Akman (Bloomberg) — A Turkish court upheld an opposition complaint about a multi-billion dollar canal project pushed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a setback for the leader’s latest... ---
**Author:** ![Waymond\_Womano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.newyorkyimby.com/waymond_womano/32/7078_2.png) [@Waymond\_Womano](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/u/Waymond_Womano)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167/5 "2025-05-01T15:49:16Z")
> **[Türkiye to build Kanal Istanbul at 'right time': Minister](https://www.dailysabah.com/business/transportation/turkiye-to-build-kanal-istanbul-at-right-time-minister)** > > Türkiye is determined to construct a canal project in Istanbul intended to relieve pressure on the busy Bosporus, when the time is right and financing is... ---
**Author:** ![mcart](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.newyorkyimby.com/mcart/32/84718_2.png) [@mcart](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/u/mcart)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167/6 "2025-05-01T23:08:17Z")
I.e. Inflation looks like a spacex rocket in Turkey, so we’re not gonna try and build something that will inevitably be extremely expensive ---
**Author:** ![Waymond\_Womano](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.newyorkyimby.com/waymond_womano/32/7078_2.png) [@Waymond\_Womano](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/u/Waymond_Womano)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167/7 "2026-06-02T03:21:20Z")
> **[Europe set to copy Egypt’s Suez Canal tolls with £20bn new waterway plan amid...](https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/europe-set-to-copy-egypts-suez-canal-tolls-with-pound20bn-new-canal-plan-amid-strait/nr72680)** > > Europe is moving closer to creating a Suez Canal-style maritime corridor as Turkey advances the £20 billion Istanbul Canal, a project designed to establish a toll-based shipping route linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara and reshaping global... ---
**Author:** ![mcart](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.newyorkyimby.com/mcart/32/84718_2.png) [@mcart](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/u/mcart)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://forum.newyorkyimby.com/t/kanal-instanbul-project/21167/8 "2026-06-02T03:56:50Z")
Interesting to see they’re actually advancing with the project, but of course it’s not like anyone in Turkey would stop Erdogan regardless of what he wanted to do.