Turkey to start Canal Istanbul project ‘soon’: Erdogan

Turkish president says project of artificial sea route to protect Bosphorus from risks

By Yildiz Aktas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey will soon initiate the project of artificial sea-level waterway Canal Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

“We will initiate Canal Istanbul as soon as possible with a tender,” Erdogan told a meeting on social project of 100,000 houses for low-income people in capital Ankara.

Erdogan added it is a “project to protect the Bosphorus from a serious disaster.”

The planned canal is meant to provide relief to shipping traffic between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, particularly oil tanker traffic through the Bosphorus.

It is one of Turkey's most strategic mega projects, and plans to eliminate the rising risk posed by ships carrying dangerous goods in the Bosphorus.

The 45-kilometer (nearly 28-mile) canal, which will be built in Istanbul's Kucukcekmece-Sazlidere-Durusu corridor, is to boost a capacity of 160 vessels a day.

* Contributions and writing by Sena Guler

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