İDO İstanbul Deniz OtobüsleriOn Wednesday, September 30, due to strong winds in the Sea of Marmara and preparations for the winter schedule, İDO (Istanbul Sea Buses) has canceled some of its fast ferry services. These cancellations, particularly on the Bandirma and Mediterranean (Tasucu-Kyrenia) routes, are affecting passengers' travel plans. However, as of Wednesday morning, no cancellations have been announced for BUDO (Bursa Sea Buses) services. To avoid inconvenience, passengers are strongly advised to check official announcements from the respective operators and keep communication channels active before traveling.
September 30: İDO Ferry Service Cancellations
Istanbul Sea Buses (İDO) has decided to cancel some fast ferry services for Wednesday, September 30, citing "Schedule Change" as the reason. This situation directly affects passengers using sea transportation, particularly in the Marmara and Mediterranean regions. The canceled services and their details are as follows:
- 11:00 fast ferry service from Kyrenia to Tasucu.
- 11:30 fast ferry service from Kadikoy - Yenikapi to Bandirma.
- 15:30 fast ferry service from Tasucu to Kyrenia.
- 15:30 fast ferry service from Bandirma - Yenikapi to Kadikoy.
Passengers holding tickets for these routes are advised to contact İDO customer services to confirm the current status before heading to the ports.
BUDO Services: Latest Status (September 30)
According to official announcements by Bursa Sea Buses (BUDO), as of Wednesday morning, September 30, there are no cancellations for sea bus services between Mudanya and Istanbul (Eminonu/Sirkeci). BUDO continues its regular services in accordance with current weather conditions and the planned winter/autumn schedule. However, given the possibility of sudden increases in wind speed in the Sea of Marmara throughout the day, it is important to follow BUDO's website and mobile applications to stay informed about potential changes.
How to Get Refunds for Canceled Ferry Services?
In cases where ferry services are canceled by the operating company (İDO or BUDO), passenger ticket refund procedures are as follows:
- Tickets Purchased Online: Refunds for tickets bought online (via website or mobile app) using a credit card are automatically processed and reflected on the respective credit card within 1 to 7 business days, without any action required from the passengers.
- Tickets Purchased at the Counter or Agency: Passengers who purchased tickets with cash at the counter or through authorized agencies must go to the nearest terminal counter with their tickets to request a full refund.
Under What Conditions Are Ferry Services Canceled?
Decisions to cancel sea bus and fast ferry services in the Sea of Marmara and other sea routes are made jointly by vessel captains and operations centers. These decisions are typically made to ensure passenger and navigation safety. According to general maritime safety regulations, if wind speeds exceed an average of 30-35 knots (approximately 60-65 km/h) or wave heights reach a level that endangers the vessel's maneuverability and docking safety (generally above 2-3 meters), services may be instantly canceled for safety reasons. In such situations, disruptions can also occur on busy routes like Yenikapi - Yalova.
Ways to Get Instant Notifications for Service Cancellations
To stay informed about last-minute ferry service cancellations and avoid inconvenience at ports, it is crucial to enter your contact information (mobile phone and email) accurately and completely during the ticket purchase process. Ferry companies send automatic SMS notifications to registered numbers as soon as a cancellation decision is made (usually a few hours before the service). Furthermore, downloading the official mobile applications of İDO and BUDO and activating the "Allow Notifications" option is one of the most reliable ways to instantly learn about potential cancellations. This way, you can access up-to-date information without having to wait at piers like Yalova or Yenikapi.