To Realize Transit Opportunities of Turkey

Nurettin Coban, Assistant Director of Port Department, General Directorate of Turkish State Railways

In 2001 Turkey has realized 15 % of exports and 36 % imports from her ports in total of nationwide export/import to the Members of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) countries. In accordance with 2002 statistical data of Republic of Turkey Foreign Trade Undersecretaries, Turkey has realized an amount of 3.4Bn USD of export and 6.5Bn USD of import with BSEC countries.

Because of having the geographical advantages for transit transportation, Turkey has aimed to improve the transportation and communication opportunities and takes participation in the TRACECA project.

Besides, maritime transport links between Turkey and its neighbours, for the highway road connections as included in the Turkish government urgent action plan, construction of 15,000 km high standard divided road project started and is expected to finish in next five years. In the scope of this project, capacity and quality of existing highway connection will increase and will make it possible to many connection between neighbour countries. In addition, construction of Black Sea coast highway project is still going on.

Samsun Port is appropriate for serving to combined sea, rail and road transportation in terms of its existing facilities and hinterland links. Samsun Port has a ferry terminal and combined transportation arrivals especially through rail-ferry. Georgia's ports Poti and Batumi located on the TRACECA line, are important for the constitution of necessary infrastructure in order to connect with our country's ports. Samsun Port is operated by TCDD and at present it has an appropriate infrastructure within the region. 

Samsun — Kalin Signaling and Electrification Project has been included into investment program of TCDD in order to increase the capacity of Samsun — Kalin railway line section that is located on the combined transportation route. The railway line between Turkey and Iraq opened to the transport on 1 August 2003, says the турция горящие путевки Portal.

Mersin and Izmir Ports have been determined as the hub ports according to National Master Plan prepared by Japanese International Cooperation Agency. 

In our country it is aimed to increase transit transportation facilities by creating a continuous railway network between Europe and Asia. In the direction of this target, some projects are taken into consideration. These are: Istanbul Strait Tube Tunnel Project, Rehabilitation Project between Ankara and Istanbul, Kinkkale — Yozgat — Sivas, a New Railway Construction Project between Kars and Tbilisi (Georgia).

In order to eliminate the damages resulted from the Marmara Earthquake effected in Izmit Bay and its surroundings in 1999, European Investment Bank (EIB) has involved a package program for the rehabilitation of Derince Port. In the scope of this project procuring of procuring of two units of 15 t capacity of shore crane and two units of standard type gantry crane, constructing of a new berth, renewing of storehouses and repairing of back areas has been planned and necessary studies has been completed. In addition, to increase the effectiveness and productivity of the Derince — Ilyichevsk ferry line, the projects of lying of standard and wide type rails and constructing of reserve sidings are taken into account and these studies are still put on the agenda.