Bayraktar Attorneys advises yacht owners, buyers, operators and investors on every legal step of owning and running a vessel in Turkey. From the purchase contract to registration, flagging, marina agreements and disputes, we handle the whole matter in English.
Turkey sits at the meeting point of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea, and its marinas and shipyards draw owners from all over the world. Our maritime team makes sure your purchase is safe, your title is clean and your vessel is registered correctly under Turkish law.
Talk to an English-speaking maritime lawyer today. The first consultation is free and there is no obligation.
Buying or running a yacht in a country whose language and maritime rules are new to you can be stressful. Our team works with foreign owners regularly and manages the legal side from the first offer to the day the vessel is safely in your name.
We take care of the full process, so nothing is missed:
A yacht is a significant purchase, and the paperwork decides whether your ownership is secure. We guide buyers and sellers through each stage and make sure the transfer is lawful and complete.
Before any money changes hands, we check the vessel's registry entry to confirm who really owns it and whether there is any mortgage, lien or attachment on it. We review the class, survey and registration documents so you know exactly what you are buying.
We prepare or review the sale and purchase agreement so that the price, payment terms, delivery, condition of the vessel and allocation of risk are clear and enforceable. Where a survey or sea trial is planned, we build those conditions into the contract.
We manage the closing, the payment arrangements and the transfer of ownership in the registry, and we obtain the updated registration documents so your title is properly recorded under Turkish law.
Choosing where and how to register your vessel affects tax, crewing and where it can trade. We explain the options and handle the filings.
Vessels registered here fly the Turkish flag and are recorded at the registry kept by the relevant port registry office. Ownership and flag eligibility follow specific rules, and many foreign owners hold the vessel through a Turkish company. We assess your eligibility and prepare the filings.
The TUGS is a separate register that can offer tax and operational advantages for qualifying vessels, and it is often used for commercial yachts and larger craft. We advise whether your vessel qualifies and manage the registration.
For a private yacht we handle the registration in your name or through your company, and where you are moving a vessel out of Turkish flag we manage the deregistration and the certificate needed to register elsewhere.
Once a vessel is yours, the day-to-day legal side begins. Marina contracts, berthing rights and running costs can carry terms that are not always in your favour, so we review them before you sign.
We also keep owners on the right side of the rules that apply to yachts and maritime businesses:
If you plan to charter your yacht or run it commercially, the legal setup is different from private ownership. We advise on the right structure, help you set up a Turkish company where that fits, and prepare the charter agreements and operational documents so your business runs on a sound footing.
When something goes wrong, whether it is a sale gone sour, a charter disagreement, damage to the vessel or a dispute with a marina, we represent you. We aim first for a practical settlement through negotiation, and where that is not possible we pursue your case through arbitration or the Turkish courts while protecting your commercial interests.
We learn what you want to do, whether that is buying, selling, registering or resolving a dispute, and set out the steps, costs and timeline.
We check the vessel, the seller and the registry records for ownership, mortgages and liens, so you know exactly what you are dealing with.
We prepare or negotiate the sale, charter or marina agreement so the terms are clear, fair and enforceable.
We complete the registry filings, the flagging and the transfer of ownership before the Turkish authorities, under a power of attorney where you prefer.
We deliver the updated registration documents and stay available for compliance, permits and any later matters.
We work with international yacht owners and operators every day, entirely in English.
From due diligence to flagging, we know the Turkish maritime authorities and their requirements.
Most steps, including the sale and the registry filings, can be completed under a power of attorney.
One team for buying, registering, chartering and, if needed, litigation.
Atty. Nevzat Oğulcan Bayraktar
Confidential, English-speaking maritime support from due diligence to flagging.
This page provides general information about maritime and yacht law in Turkey and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please contact Bayraktar Attorneys for a consultation.
