Many cruisers may intend to sail Türkiye’s beautiful coastline for only one sailing season and then move on. However, some cruisers do stay much longer, as long as 15 years!
Security measures are taken by local police gendarme (law enforcement organisation that maintains security, safety and public order). You may, during your stay in the area, never see the police or gendarme. It has been, in some busy areas, especially Istanbul, that the Turkish authorities stop members of the public to conduct ID checks Protests,/ rioting/theft/bodily harm occurs not in Marmaris, but limited to large cities, e.g. Istanbul or Ankara or Antalya. More likely, in Marmaris, individual marinas provide 24-hour security (which usually, during winter and heavy storms, monitor and/or assist cruisers’ boats’ safety from the weather).
Due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, the areas bordering Syria and Iraq should not be visited. Terrorist attacks, shootings and violent demonstrations continue in these border areas.
In some busy areas, especially Istanbul, the Turkish authorities stop members of the public to conduct ID checks.
Consult the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidelines and the US Department of State guidelines before traveling to Türkiye.
Türkiye's coast and islands are a safe cruising destination and reports of crime towards yachts are rare.
Anchorages from which Noonsite has received break-in reports in the past include Keci Buku, the bay south of Datca and Aksazlar Bay, north of Fethiye Ece Marina, Gocek Bay near Skopea Marina and Ucagiz Limani, Kekova.
Thieving is an annual occurrence in the spring in anchorages in many areas globally.
Black Sea Coast: Drifting mines have been detected and deactivated in the Western Black Sea.
GPS Interference: A continuing problem when sailing between Crete and Suez is that no NTMs are issued if the signals are being blocked for training. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) posted an Advisory stating that multiple instances of significant GPS interference have been reported worldwide in the maritime domain, resulting in lost or inaccurate GPS signals. It could put one 20-200 nm away from where one thinks. Plotting one’s course on paper charts can help recognize that this is happening.
Migrants: The Aegean Sea remains a dangerous passage for migrants traveling from North Africa and the Middle East toward Europe. Ayvalik, situated just eight nautical miles from the Greek island of Lesvos, is a frequent hotspot for crossings. The Turkish Coast Guard regularly conducts rescue and interception operations in the area. A high-speed migrant boat collided with a Turkish coast guard vessel off the coast of Ayvalik in northwest Turkey on 7 September 2025, leaving five people dead and one severely injured. See this useful Yachting Monthly article Migrants at sea: the dos and don'ts of helping those in distress - and other Migrant reports on Noonsite.
https://casdeniz.dzkk.tsk.tr/#
Government supported map-based website that plots all active Navtex warnings on a chart. It has an “English” option.
Last updated: September 2025
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