Writer: Lect. Güliz CAN
Standing with all its remarkable beauty, the Bosphorus is one of the most iconic symbols of Istanbul. It connects the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea and separates the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. The Bosphorus is a deep blue-green color and it is dotted with fishing boats, cargo ships, and ferries that add to the area’s charm.
One of the most enjoyable activities to do in Istanbul is to sail on the Bosphorus or take a short ferry to Eminönü or Üsküdar to see the magnificent beauty and history of Istanbul. But do you know how passenger transport has improved on the Bosphorus?
Ferry transport developed in the Bosphorus with the improvements in technology in the early years of the 20th century. The residents in İstanbul were carried from Karaköy to Haydarpaşa train station by wooden rowboats in those days.
Şirket-I Hayriye was the first public transportation company established in 1856, operating steam-powered boats that transported people and goods along the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
Along with Şirket-I Hayriye, there were a couple of mariners who used to work in rowboats under difficult conditions coming from the Black Sea region. The increasing population density in Kadıköy shore, allowed other maritime transport companies to occur and pushed them to look for ways to make their vessels bigger and engine-powered.
In the 1930s, a seaman named Captain Enabir Can heard that small sea service vessels were left behind by Greeks in İzmir. He went and purchased 3 boats that were 12 meters long with a capacity to carry 20-30 passengers to be used on the Bosphorus line. With these 3 boats named Marmara, Karadeniz, and Ege, a fleet was organized and started to work from Sirkeci to Salacak, Uskudar to Eminönü, and Kadıköy.
In time, the existing fleet that consisted of 6-7 vessels suddenly increased to 16 boats. In the 50s and 60s, this fleet attained huge success with the contributions of its founders. Although the corporation’s competitive power was weakened by the internal conflicts in the 70s and worsened until 1990, the members managed to recover. With a fast recovery, 95 % of the fleet was renewed, the seating capacity of the fleet reached from 9.000 to 45.000 and the number of passengers increased from 1 million to 30 million people. Today, this leading Corporation, Turyol provides passenger transportation, vehicle transportation, and tourism services in coastal and international waters with 60 passenger ships, 2 passenger-vehicle ships, 8 sea tourism ships, and 4 service ships that are operating under underwings.
In the path that led to today, Turyol went through rough patches and overcame many obstacles, but in all developments used its own resources to reach significant success. Every day, it offers sightseeing tours and cruises along the Bosphorus, giving visitors a unique and unforgettable way to experience the city’s history and beauty and its landmarks from the water. These tours are a popular attraction for both domestic and international tourists, contributing to Istanbul's economy and supporting local businesses. Therefore, corporation-provided maritime transport is a vital component of İstanbul’s transportation network and tourism industry.
To watch the documentary:
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O0w63WG2vw&t=124s
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGg2S0NYofo
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