Pollution fines: the per-ton amounts in force from 1 January 2026, tripled for companies.

The lira amounts of the administrative fines for vessel-source pollution under art. 20(ı) of the Environment Law are revalued each January by a communiqué of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change; the amounts in force from 1 January 2026 were published in the Official Gazette of 30 December 2025 and are entered against the article in the consolidated text (Law No. 2872 art. 20, footnote to the 2026/1 communiqué).

• Tankers discharging oil or oily residues: 5,752.34 lira per gross ton up to 1,000 GT; 1,438.13 lira for each additional ton up to 5,000 GT; 143.75 lira for each ton above (Law No. 2872 art. 20(ı)).
• Other vessels discharging oily residues or dirty ballast: 2,876.16 lira, 575.25 lira and 143.75 lira per gross ton on the same bands (Law No. 2872 art. 20(ı)).
• Multipliers: tripled for companies and businesses; doubled in Special Environmental Protection Areas; applied at one third where the vessel cleaned up the pollution with her own means; tonnage capped at 100,000 GT; hazardous substances at ten times the oil scale (Law No. 2872 art. 20).
• The vessel: held by the nearest port authority until the fine is paid or security is given; a bank guarantee letter or a P&I club letter is accepted by the Law (Law No. 2872 art. 20(ı)). Court challenge within thirty days of service, against the Ministry; filing does not stop collection (Law No. 2872 arts 24, 25).

The amounts will change again on 1 January 2027; check the figure in force at the date of the incident. Full explanation on the pollution fines page.

Updates