Activists: Municipalities marina plan in Bosphorus against Montreux Convention

ISTANBUL

Bebek, one of the beautiful neighborhoods on the European shore of the Bosphorus, has joined the list of contentions that pits the municipality against the residents over construction plans.

This time however, the issue might have an international dimension. The debate is neither about the construction of a shopping mall nor a mosque.

This time, the residents are against the construction of a marina, which they claim will also be against the Montreux convention, the international treaty that regulates traffic in the strait.

Following the construction of marinas in Tarabya and İstinye, two bays again on the European side of the Bosphorus, Istanbul Greater Municipalities have plans to construct a marina with a capacity of 300 boats, as well as a car park with a capacity of 150 cars, on the sea. The locals, who are organized under the name the “Bebek Neighborhood Initiative” (BSG), say the project is now at the stage of waiting for approval from the relevant ministries.

Members of the initiative who are against the project for environmental reasons claim the project is against the national law that regulates the Bosphorus, which stipulates that cultural, historical values and natural beauties are to be preserved. They also claim a third marina on the straits will increase the risks of accidents in the water way, which is among the narrowest, yet busiest in the world.

The municipality’s plan to increase the number of yachts to be parked in marinas to over 5,000 will pose a serious risk to the safe passage of the ships, according to the BSG. Bebek is very close to the narrowest point in the straits, which creates an additional risk to safe passage, they argue.