Blue Card in Turkey

[Squeaky]

Good morning:

Having noticed that the two pump out boats are still ashore in Netsel Marina in Marmaris, I wonder if anyone has been approached by any authorities concerning the Blue Card this year.

I have not heard any discussion of this subject locally and just wonder what is happening up and down the Turkish coast concerning this subject.

Cheers

Squeaky

 

[mikehibb]

Hi Squeaky.
I do not want to tempt fate by replying but last season we heard nothing at all really.
However as we are in the Bodrum peninsula area I think that the coast guard and all other available authorities were rather busy with the refugee problems as Kos is just a short hop away.

 

[ASW11]

Hi mikehibb, we're currently in Turgutreis, the local agents are advising to get a recent pump out on the card as are marina staff "citing" a number of stops of foreign flagged boats by the coast guard- with, often, large fines which seem to be issued ad-hoc. Some friends were anchored in Gumusluk last week and also had their card checked by the cg. Seems to me to be sensible not to run the risk.

On a similar theme, was chatting to an agent a couple of days ago who told me a story from last weekend where a boat was stopped by the cg and found to have discrepancies with the crew v transit log and an unused blue card having come up here from Gocek. They were escorted into the marina where they have to pay the daily rate until their fines were paid and documents in order. The fines were 1000tl for each discrepancy in transit log and a further 1000tl for blue card. Yes, this is another story of what happened to someone else but, seems to me to be worth reporting and asking, "why take the chance for something which is so little bother?"

For info, there is leaflet now available re blue cards and this lists many places where pump outs are said to be available. Taking Squeky's point on board, whether they exist and are working or not is a fair question.

 

[sailaboutvic]

There story's are all well and good but so far not one have stood up and said it me who got fine and this is why , same as Siracusa . And until that happen and we can get the full story as far as we concern there are just that story's
In the Siracusa case it been said 15 to 18 have been fined ,
Would someone like to put there hands up so we can ask why .

 

[maxy]

As you may know, we run charter and gardienage company in Marmaris. There have been absolutely no changes to the system this year at all that we have been made aware of.

I can well imagine that as time passes and not many yachts use these pump out boats (many we speak to have seen them and didn't know their purpose) they have probably lost interest.

Like many things this year as its so quiet we are seeing charging increasing. E.g. Marti Marina used to provide it as a free service when you filled up with fuel, now they want 20TL

 

[mikehibb]

Thanks ASW11 and all,

A bit more detail from my side.
When the blue card system came in I did get a card straight away. at that time I had a foreign flagged 33ft sailboat with heads and a blackwater tank anyway. But in answering the original question, a no time was I ever asked to produce it or have it checked. Even when we did a transit log renewal. ( which would have been an ideal time to check it).We did not hear of anyone else being checked either. We did hear the stories from other areas as everyone else did but no actual first hand reports.
We have since sold that boat and now have a 6.4m Cuddy day boatwhich is Turkish registered, obviously we do not have a black water tank due to the size/design of nearly all boats of this size. Perhaps it is mainly the larger foreign flagged craft that are being targeted. I will look into getting a blue card for the new boat as soon as we arrive, but with no tank to pump out how would I get credit for a pump out on the card. We do have a sea toilet, but that has never been used, should I remove it or padlock the cover shut? in case of an inspection.
I guess that I just get a new card and go down to Yalikavak marina and ask the what is happening this year. Any way will be over for the season this weekend, and will update you later on.

 

[macd]

but with no tank to pump out how would I get credit for a pump out on the card.

If it concerns you, fit a dip tube to an existing seacock (cockpit drain, say), or fit a seacock specifically for the purpose. They'll be perfectly happy to credit your card for pumping out the Mediterranean.

 

[mikehibb]

Arrived a couple of days ago and here is the update as promised.

I went to get a new Blue card today, no problems at all had it registered etc.
The marina staff commented that this year there is a bigger crack down, i.e. more inspections by the coast guard. They did not give any stories of fines, just that inspections were definitely increased.

Low and behold, this afternoon whilst on the terrace overlooking koyunbaba bay I saw the coast guard boat apparently carrying out checks. It pulled alongside two boats ( motorboats) one 10m approx then a few minutes later a bigger 15m+ boat. was with each boat for 10 minutes or so. It then moved on towards Gumusluk. It did not however approach the 12m sailboat nor the similar sized cat.

So glad I got my card today, and yes inspections are happening this year in this region.

 

[macd]

I saw the coast guard boat apparently carrying out checks. It pulled alongside two boats ( motorboats) one 10m approx then a few minutes later a bigger 15m+ boat. was with each boat for 10 minutes or so. It then moved on towards Gumusluk. It did not however approach the 12m sailboat nor the similar sized cat.

So glad I got my card today, and yes inspections are happening this year in this region.

Was there anything specific about these visits that suggested they were to do with blue cards, as opposed to any other of the many other things the coastguard might check?

 

[mikehibb]

Could have been many other things, ( hence my "apparently" comment)
I am just saying that I saw the coast guard carrying out checks, this is the first time that I have seen this happen in 8 seasons in this region.

Based on information from ASW11 above and the fact that our local marina had stated that this year there are definitely more inspections ( blue cards, documents or whatever) added to what I saw I thought that it worth mentioning so that others can make sure that they do have their docs in order, and not risk winging it.

 

[Squeaky]

Good morning:

The summer cruising period is now nearly over and I wonder if anyone has had their Blue Card checked this summer.

Hopefully the response will be negative as I am hoping this silliness has died a natural death although, of course, I expect marinas will still be selling the cards - after all it is a source of income to them and the originators of this program.

Cheers

Squeaky

 

[truscott]

Well... we pumped out in Turgetreis as we came south. The pump didn't look like it had been used a lot. I had originally planned to pump out at Marti Marina, but the Admiral persuaded me to do it earlier. We did not find any pump out places north of Didim, but we did not try particularly hard. Now in Bozburun where the Pump Facility still doesn't work, and we have been told that Marti Marina is not working either (although they will organize for the pump out boat to come to you apparently).

Saw lots of activity with the Coast guard running to and from boats anchored off of Kizil Adasi. No idea what this was about as they did not stop us or hail us on the VHF.

We'll be checking out of Turkey in a couple of weeks, so will organize a pump out "just in case" before then.

Would be lovely to hear that it has died a death, but suspect that this is never going to happen.

PT