Was Suleiman the Magnificent the first to propose it? The Istanbul Canal project, a plan for an artificial waterway in Istanbul, has a history stretching back centuries. Let’s delve into its story.
The Istanbul Canal is planned to connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. This ambitious project aims to create an alternative sea route. It would run parallel to the existing Bosphorus Strait.
Imagine a waterway 45 kilometers long. The Istanbul Canal’s projected depth is 20.75 meters. Its width would be 360 meters on the surface. At the bottom, it would be 275 meters wide.
The Istanbul Canal aims to ease shipping traffic through the Bosphorus. Currently, around 41000 vessels pass through the Bosphorus annually. Among these are 8000 tankers. They carry 145 million tons of crude oil. The canal hopes to reduce congestion and the risk of accidents. The Bosphorus sees nearly three times the traffic of the Suez Canal.
The idea of a canal linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara isn’t new. Proposals have surfaced at least seven times throughout history.
Suleiman the Magnificent first proposed the canal in the 16th century. His architect, Mimar Sinan, even drew up plans. However, the project was abandoned for unknown reasons.
In 1591, during Sultan Murad III’s reign, an imperial order revived the project. Again, work stopped for unknown reasons.
The pressure to recommence the canal resurfaced in 1654. Sultan Mehmed IV’s reign saw renewed interest. Yet it came to nothing.
Sultan Mustafa III tried twice in 1760. A lack of funds prevented the project from progressing.
During Sultan Mahmud II’s reign, an Imperial Ottoman Committee examined the project again. A report was prepared in 1813. Still, no action was taken.
Modern proposals emerged in the late 20th century. In 1985, Yüksel Önem suggested an alternative waterway. He was a consultant for the Energy Ministry.
Nusret Avcı proposed a 23-kilometer canal in 1991. He was head of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Environment Commission.
Bülent Ecevit, leader of the Democratic Left Party, proposed a canal in 1994. This would connect the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Canal Istanbul in June 2021. The canal would be large enough for VLCC class vessels.
The government expects to generate significant revenue from the Istanbul Canal. Some estimate US$8 billion per year. This revenue would come partly from transit service fees. Critics question this number. They suggest the net revenues could be negative.
The Istanbul Canal project includes ports and logistics centers. Artificial islands will be integrated with the canal. New earthquake-resistant residential areas will be built along the channel. Soil dug for the canal will be used to build these islands.
Transport projects will connect to the canal. These include the Halkali-Kapikule high-speed train. Also included are metro lines and highways.
Financing the Istanbul Canal is expected through a build-operate-transfer model. Public-private partnerships could also provide funding.
The final route passes through Lake Küçükçekmece. It extends through Avcılar and Başakşehir. It reaches the Black Sea in Arnavutköy.
Construction started on Sazlıdere Bridge in June 2021. President Erdoğan stated it marked the beginning of the canal’s construction. The entire project is expected to take seven years.
The Istanbul Canal has faced criticism. Concerns include environmental impact and resource allocation. Some suggest Turkey aims to bypass the Montreux Convention. This convention governs the straits.
The Istanbul Canal is a project with a long and complex history. It promises to reshape Istanbul’s geography. It also stirs debate about its economic, environmental, and geopolitical implications.