PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Yarimca
Pilot
updated May 2010Pilotage is compulsory for Turkish merchant ships of 1,000GT and over and foreign ships and yachts of 150GT and over, arriving, departing, at anchor, berthing/unberthing and at the buoys in the Gulf of Izmit.
Dekas have 2 pilot stations which are located at the entrance of the Gulf of Izmit and at Yarimca:
Darica Dekas Pilot Station: Located at the W entrance of Gulf of Izmit (Darica), 40°45.3'N 029°23.3'E. Tel: +90 262 745 4312, Fax: +90 262 745 4203, VHF Ch 12, call "Dekas Pilot".
Yarimca Dekas Pilot Station: Located near the Korfez Bay Ferry Jetty, 40°46.43'N 029°44.00'E. Tel: +90 262 528 3300, Fax: +90 262 528 5372, VHF Ch 12, call "Dekas Pilot".
In order to avoid possible delays in obtaining a pilot, vessels should give as much advanced notice as possible of ETA/ETD. These messages should be confirmed at least 2 hours prior to arrival and departure. All arriving ships should maintain a continuous watch on VHF Ch 12 as soon as they are within VHF range.
Vessels arriving or leaving with a freeboard exceeding 9m must use the accommodation ladder in combination with the pilot ladder. The bottom of the ladder should be 1.0m above the water.
Key data
updated Mar 2026Size limits
Harbour: LOA 399.99m, beam 59m, draught 18.0m, 202,376DWT
Offshore: LOA 285.41m, beam 53m, draught 29.0m, 166,468DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
Summer.
Tides
Range 0.3m.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tupras Refinery | 29.00 m | 285 m | 16 |
| Evyapport Terminal | — | 368 m | 4 |
| Milangaz Terminal | 18.00 m | 230 m | 1 |
| DP World Yarimca | — | 400 m | 2 |
| Oyak Port | — | 218 m | 1 |
| Turkuaz Terminal | — | 162 m | 1 |
| Habas Terminal | 11.00 m | 180 m | 1 |
| Rota Port | 10.00 m | 229 m | 3 |
| IGSAS Terminal | — | 229 m | 3 |
| Gubretas Terminal | 8.20 m | 190 m | 2 |
| Aygaz Terminal | 6.50 m | 120 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Mar 2026Anchorages
Anchorages in the Izmit Gulf are as follows:
Dry cargo vessels anchorage:
Darica/Eskihisar: Located at approx 40°46.0'N 029°26.3'E.
Izmit anchorage: Located at approx 40°45.0'N 029°54.0'E.
Explosives, flammables, combustibles, dangerous cargo and tanker anchorage:
Yarimca: Located at approx 40°45.7'N 029°43.0'E.
Tugs
During berthing/unberthing the following tugs are compulsory:
1 x 16t bollard pull for vessels of 2,000-4,999GT;
2 x 18t bollard pull for vessels of 5,000-14,999GT;
2 x 27t bollard pull for vessels of 15,000-29,999GT; or
3 x 18t bollard pull for vessels of 15,000-29,999GT;
2 x 30t bollard pull for vessels of more than 30,000GT; or
3 x 20t bollard pull for vessels of more than 30,000GT.
Depending on the weather and for safety, additional tugs may be requested. Six tugs are available from 29-41t bollard pull.
Mooring
Tupras Korfez Petrokimya: Dolphins have good fender and mooring arrangements. Vessels normally berthed port side alongside due to anchored vessels, starboard approach is difficult but possible.
Charts and publications
BA 180, 224, 497. Admiralty Pilot NP24, NP286(3).
Reporting before arrival
updated May 2010ETA and pre-arrival notices
ETA should be sent 48, 24 and 12 hour prior to arrival and should include request for pilot and tugs.
Communications
Call Turk Radio on MF & HF bands, (ship-to-shore communication is by VHF-DSC channels 16, 70 near to Turkey). Forecasts and other meteorological events are broadcast in Turkish on VHF Ch 16 and 67 and updated every three hours. (Broadcast in English on VHF if required).
VHF: Darica Pilots: Ch 16, 12.
Pilot Office: Tel: +90 262 745 4312, Fax: +90 262 745 4203.
Notice of readiness
NOR will be received by Loading Master or receivers of cargoes. It should be tendered at the time of pilot boarding, anchoring or arrival points.
Documents
The following must be presented to the Harbour Master for inspection, to obtain outward clearance.
Health
Vessels calling at Turkish ports have to obtain free pratique.
Customs and immigration
Vessels calling at Turkish ports have to obtain Customs clearance. No personnel can join or leave the ship before inspection is completed. Vessels may be cleared at anchorage or alongside and sometimes in the straits of Dardanelles and Bosphorus. The clearance party consists of 1 Sanitary Officer, 1 or more Immigration Police, 1 or more Customs Officer.
Customs allowance: Ten packets of cigarettes and one bottle of spirits per crew member per week.
Flags
All foreign ships are required to fly Turkish flag during their stay in Turkish ports or anchorages and also when passing through the Turkish straits (Dardanelles and Bosphorus).
Inspections
Inspection of ships in Turkey
Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications
Hakki Turaylic Caddesi No:5 Emek Cankaya, Ankara
Tel: +90 312 203 10 00
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: General Directorate for Maritime Affairs, Port and Coastal Facilities Department.
Position: Head of Department.
Address: Hakki Turaylic Cad. No:5 Emek / Ankara -Turkey, Postcode: 06338
Tel: +90 312 203 10 00
Fax: +90 312 231 33 06
Website: www.didgm.gov.tr
For further ISPS information see IMO website https://www.imo.org
About Yarimca
updated Mar 2026Where it is
The port of Yarimca is located in the Sea of Marmara, on the northern coast of the Gulf of Izmit.
The port
The port handles container, dry bulk, break bulk, vehicles and LPG and liquid cargoes.
Traffic
Approximately 700,000TEU are handled annually.
Questions about Yarimca
What are the pilot arrangements at Yarimca?
Pilotage is compulsory for Turkish merchant ships of 1,000GT and over and foreign ships and yachts of 150GT and over, arriving, departing, at anchor, berthing/unberthing and at the buoys in the Gulf of Izmit.
What time zone is Yarimca in?
Local time at Yarimca is UTC+3. No summer time.
What is the maximum draft at Yarimca?
The deepest berth listed is at Tupras Refinery: 29.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Yarimca?
1025.
Which load line zone is Yarimca in?
Summer.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Yarimca?
The UN/LOCODE of Yarimca is TRYAR.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Yarimca say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.