2025 Penalties for Marine Pollution Caused by Ships

In Türkiye, penalties for marine pollution caused by ships are imposed under the Environmental Law No. 2872 and the Law on Emergency Response and Compensation for Damages in Cases of Pollution of the Marine Environment by Oil and Other Harmful Substances.

Fines are calculated according to the gross tonnage (GT) of the ship and the type of pollutant discharged into the sea.

1. Criteria for Penalties

Gross tonnage of the ship (GT)

Type of pollutant discharged

Whether intentional or accidental

Repetition of the act (if repeated, fines are doubled)

2. Penalty Amounts for 2025

(Note: Penalties are updated annually based on the official revaluation rate. Below figures are from the tariff published at the end of 2024, applicable in 2025.)

Discharge of oil and derivatives into the sea:

Up to 1,000 GT: ≈ TL 2,080 / GT

1,001 – 5,000 GT: + TL 520 / GT

Over 5,001 GT: + TL 100 / GT

Discharge of dirty ballast / bilge / oily waste:

Up to 1,000 GT: ≈ TL 1,385 / GT

1,001 – 5,000 GT: + TL 275 / GT

Over 5,001 GT: + TL 65 / GT

Discharge of sewage (wastewater):

Up to 1,000 GT: ≈ TL 415 / GT

1,001 – 5,000 GT: + TL 85 / GT

Over 5,001 GT: + TL 20 / GT

Discharge of solid waste (garbage):

Up to 1,000 GT: ≈ TL 830 / GT

1,001 – 5,000 GT: + TL 165 / GT

Over 5,001 GT: + TL 40 / GT

Oily Waste (Bilge) Fine Calculation — 22,000 GT (Tanker & Dry Cargo)

Tariff (2025, per GT):

First 1,000 GT: TL 1,385 / GT

1,001–5,000 GT (next 4,000 GT): TL 275 / GT

Over 5,001 GT (remaining 17,000 GT): TL 65 / GT

Calculation (same for tanker and dry cargo when the pollutant is “oily waste/bilge”):

1,000 × 1,385 = TL 1,385,000

4,000 × 275 = TL 1,100,000

17,000 × 65 = TL 1,105,000 Total (22,000 GT) = TL 3,590,000

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