Turkey on Monday unveiled the “most appropriate” route for the Canal Istanbul Project, which is an artificial sea-level waterway parallel to the Bosphorus that is to connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The canal is expected to have capacity for 160 vessels a day and is scheduled to be completed by 2023. Arslan said the first target is to reduce the ship traffic. Furthermore, the canal may reduce the risks that may arise from vessels carrying dangerous substances passing through the Bosphorus”, the minister said. The third goal is to increase both the position and attractiveness of Turkey with waterway transportation in Istanbul. Arslan said that all work, including the determination of alternative routes, evaluation of the current situation, numerical model studies, earthquake, tsunami, wind and wave climate and geological surveys were completed by the beginning of the year, explaining that each topic was handled in detail. Arslan did not give further information about the exact cost of the project, but added it will be “much bigger” than other projects.
