HYPEYACHTING & TRAVEL
Announcement · 2026
Lending your boat: the authorisation letter
A private boat can no longer be lent on a word. If someone other than the owner is going to use it, the authorisation letter in Annex 1 of the regulation must be on board. The rule has been in force since 17 July 2026.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who may be given the boat | A person qualified to operate it, for a limited time |
| Authorisation letter | Written to the form in Annex 1 of the regulation; approved by a notary or the harbour master |
| Spouse and children | A letter is still written, but no notary or harbour master approval is needed |
| Harbour master approval fee | 1,000 TL. It rises every year with the revaluation rate. |
| Owner who lends without a letter | Administrative fine of 2,500 TL per metre of the boat’s overall length |
| Person using a boat without a letter | Amateur Seaman’s Certificate suspended for 6 months |
- Private boats may never be used commercially. An owner who lets the boat be used for commercial activity is fined 2,500 TL per metre as well.
- Boats owned by associations and foundations may only be used by members and athletes authorised in writing by the association or foundation.
- Holders of a certificate issued in another country may also use boats lent to them with an Annex 1 letter, within the limits of their certificate.
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Full text of the regulation (PDF, Turkish)
Source: Regulation on the Equipment of Private Boats and the Competence of Their Operators, articles 5, 14 and 18; Official Gazette 17.01.2026, No. 33140. It entered into force six months after publication. For information only. The binding text is the one published in the Official Gazette. Last checked: 2 October 2026.