Ferries sail on Bosphorus in Istanbul, on August 29, 2025. (Photo: AFP)

A total of 40,218 ships transited Türkiye's Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits in the first half of 2026 amid heightened security risks in the Black Sea, according to official data released on Tuesday.

Figures from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure showed that 19,277 ships passed through the Bosphorus in Istanbul and 20,941 through the Dardanelles in the northwestern province of Canakkale.

This figure marks a slight decline from the 40,988 transits recorded during the same period last year.

General cargo vessels made up the largest share with 13,127 transits, followed by bulk carriers with 7,777 and container ships with 5,188.

The data comes as security risks persist in the Black Sea. The Turkish Shipowners' Association has reported that about 136 commercial vessels have come under attack in recent months, warning of growing disruptions to regional shipping.

In the latest incident, a Turkish cargo vessel was attacked by drones about 30 nautical miles off Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Monday, injuring four crew members, including three Turkish nationals.