Şehir HatlarıDense fog in Istanbul has severely impacted maritime transport, leading to the cancellation of numerous Şehir Hatları ferry services until further notice. With visibility significantly reduced in the morning, the Bosphorus Strait was closed to transit vessel traffic, causing disruptions to city-wide ferry operations. Passengers are advised to check the latest service information before making travel plans.
Dense Fog Shuts Down Istanbul's Bosphorus
Starting overnight and intensifying in the morning, dense fog has paralyzed maritime transport across Istanbul. Due to critically low visibility, the Bosphorus Strait has been completely closed to transit vessel traffic. This blanket of fog over the Bosphorus was observable even from central locations like Beşiktaş and Ortaköy, causing service disruptions at busy piers such as Eminönü and Kadıköy. These weather conditions, which even obscured the Bosphorus Bridge, pose a significant risk to marine traffic.
Şehir Hatları Announces Cancellations
In a statement released on its official website, Şehir Hatları announced, "Due to adverse weather conditions (fog), the services listed below will not operate until further notice." This announcement indicates the temporary suspension of numerous services on Istanbul's key transport routes. The canceled services include both main lines and shorter routes.
The canceled Şehir Hatları services are as follows:
- Kadıköy-Kabataş
- Kadıköy-Beşiktaş
- Kadıköy-Karaköy-Eminönü
- Üsküdar-Karaköy-Eminönü
- Üsküdar-Haliç
- Kadıköy-Haliç
- Beşiktaş-Haliç
- Kadıköy-Üsküdar-Ortaköy
- Kadıköy-Beşiktaş-İstinye-Sarıyer
- Küçüksu-Beşiktaş-Kabataş
- Üsküdar-Aşiyan
- 08:00 Arnavutköy-Eminönü
- 08:05 Çengelköy-Eminönü
What Should Passengers Do?
In light of these cancellations due to dense fog, passengers planning to travel by sea, especially in the morning, should consider alternative transportation methods. It is crucial to follow the latest announcements made via Şehir Hatları's official website and social media accounts. As a further announcement is awaited regarding when services will return to normal, passengers are strongly advised to check the latest status before their journey. It should be noted that popular routes such as Eminönü - Kadıköy may experience increased congestion.