Traditionally-Built Wooden Vessels (Gulets) — Inspection and Certification

A "traditionally-built wooden vessel" (commonly known as a gulet) is defined under Turkish maritime regulation as a specially-designed vessel, or a replica of a historic ship, built mainly of wood using traditional craftsmanship, fitted with cabins, toilets, washbasins and a galley, used for touring, sport and recreation, and carrying no more than 36 passengers. The survey, inspection and certification requirements for this vessel class were set by a 2018 circular of Turkey's Directorate General of Maritime Affairs (further clarified in 2021 and 2023).

Gulets certified for international voyages are excluded from SOLAS scope and instead fall under Port State Control, while still being inspected against the International Convention on Load Lines (LL66), SOLAS Chapter V, MARPOL 73/78, and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006). Standard load-line requirements under Turkey's Technical Regulation for Ships do not apply to fishing vessels, traditionally-built wooden vessels, private boats or other watercraft — this class follows its own separate rules.