Regulation on Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Repair of Ships and Watercraft
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This Turkish regulation, effective 14 January 2026, establishes technical, qualification, inspection, and certification requirements for the construction, modification, maintenance, and repair of ships and watercraft within Turkey or free zones. It mandates that vessels meeting specific criteria obtain construction or modification permits from port authorities before work begins. Key thresholds include vessels 12 meters or longer, those carrying more than 12 passengers, or those transporting dangerous goods under the IMDG Code. Military vessels, coast guard, gendarmerie, police, and certain public institution vessels are exempt. All work must occur at GSVP-registered facilities, with detailed project submissions, GMO approvals for non-classed vessels, and mandatory class society oversight for larger or higher-risk vessels. The regulation defines responsibilities for project engineers, control engineers, surveyors, and shipyards while requiring digital tracking through the GSVP system.
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Key Changes
- Mandatory construction or modification permit required for Turkish-flagged vessels ≥12m LOA, carrying >12 passengers, or transporting dangerous goods
- All construction, modification and repair must take place at GSVP-registered shipyards or facilities
- Class society oversight mandatory for newbuilds ≥24m, passenger vessels >12 persons, and certain fishing vessel modifications ≥24m or ≥50m depending on build date
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
Vessel owners or representatives must obtain construction or modification permits from port authorities before beginning work on Turkish-flagged vessels that are: (a) 12 meters or longer in length, (b) carrying more than 12 passengers regardless of length, or (c) transporting dangerous goods under IMDG Code
All construction, modification, and maintenance/repair work on vessels 2.5 meters or longer must be accurately and completely entered into the GSVP (Turgut Reis Ship Industry Database System)
All construction, modification, and maintenance/repair work must be performed at GSVP-registered facilities within their authorized facility areas only
Construction and modification permit applications must be submitted to port authorities within 25 calendar days including required project documents and certificates specified in Annexes 1 and 2, in both electronic and physical formats
Project engineers must be GMO members and hold a Free Ship Engineer Registration Certificate; Control engineers must be GMO members responsible for ensuring construction/modification work conforms to approved projects