Regulation on Construction, Conversion and Repair of Ships and Watercraft

Turkey's Regulation on the Construction, Conversion and Maintenance/Repair of Ships and Watercraft, published in the Official Gazette on 14 January 2026 (No. 33137), replaced the previous 2015 regulation on the same day. It sets the technical standards, inspection and certification procedures that shipyards and facilities must follow when building, converting, or repairing vessels and yachts built or serviced in Turkey (excluding military and certain public-authority vessels).

Key changes include: engineering graduates are now authorized to perform construction/conversion inspections; the definitions of "dangerous goods transport" and "facility" were added or updated, and ambiguity around the 5% gross tonnage allowance for conversions was resolved; passenger vessel construction and conversion must now comply with Turkey's Disability Act and the Technical Regulation for Ships; vessel projects must undergo professional and technical review by the Chamber of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers; control engineers must inspect at least every 30 days; and fishing vessel machinery will require classification by an authorized body starting 1 January 2028.