Istanbul mini ferries

Istanbul’s new mini ferries to enter service on 15 July

Istanbul’s new mini ferries, designed to carry a limited number of passengers across the Bosphorus and aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Istanbul, will enter service on 15 July, the city’s metropolitan mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, announced this week during a ceremony.

During a special event held at the historic Haliç (Golden Horn) shipyard attended by several authorities, including İmamoğlu himself and the general manager of Istanbul’s transport company Şehir Hatları (City Lines), Ercüment Güldik, it was announced that initially 3 mini ferries – called in Turkish deniz dolmuş (“shared sea taxis”) – will enter service operating the İstinye-Küçüksu and Beykoz-Sarıyer routes, Turkish media reported.

“From this historic shipyard that we have revitalised to function as a centre for cultural, artistic and educational events as well as a production centre, we are committed to keep the ferries, which are the silhouette of Istanbul, alive,” the mayor said during the ceremony, highlighting the metropolitan municipality’s efforts to “ensure that the sea plays a more effective role in solving Istanbul’s traffic problem“.

passengers on a Istanbul mini ferry

At the end of the ceremony, 3 mini ferries – named Haliç 1, Haliç 2 and Haliç 3 – were launched into the waters of the Golden Horn, while the production – started last March – of another 7 mini ferries that will soon join the initial fleet, continues. Each mini ferry or deniz dolmuş has been constructed from composite using vacuum infusion methods, and designed to have low emissions. With a capacity of 33 passengers, the timetables of the routes of these new ferries, whose tariff cost will be the same as the standard Şehir Hatları service fare, are not yet known for now.