Türkiye has begun implementing new measures aimed at improving the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the conflict is increasingly spreading into the maritime domain and is now directly affecting civilian merchant vessels, including ships flying the Turkish flag or owned by Turkish companies.
According to Fidan, Ankara has prepared a package of security measures that has been submitted to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, although the details have not yet been disclosed. At the same time, Türkiye is discussing the creation of two separate safe shipping routes—one for vessels sailing to Ukrainian ports and another for those heading to Russian ports. The proposal is based on the principle that both sides would refrain from attacking ships operating along designated corridors, drawing on the earlier Black Sea Grain Initiative as a possible model.
The initiative follows a sharp deterioration in maritime security across the Black Sea. Recent attacks on commercial vessels have driven up war-risk insurance premiums, freight rates, and operational risks for shipping companies. These developments are already affecting global trade in grain, oilseeds, and fertilizers, prompting some shipowners to reconsider operations in the region.
For Ukraine, Türkiye's actions are particularly significant because the Black Sea remains the country's primary agricultural export route. Improved shipping security or the establishment of protected maritime corridors could help stabilize export logistics, reduce insurance and transportation costs, and support the continued export of grain and oilseeds during the new marketing season. However, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on whether the parties involved are willing to respect any agreed arrangements and reduce risks to civilian shipping.