ABSTRACT
Ports in Turkey consist of 15 major government ports, approximately 50 more small piers under the control of municipalities and approximately 60 private ports and piers. The major ports under the control of the government are either owned and operated by Turkish State Railways or by the Turkish Maritime Organisation. Seven general purpose major ports, which are owned and operated by Turkish State Railways and thus indirectly under the control of the Ministry of Transport, are the Ports of Istanbul (also sometimes known as the Port of Haydarpasa), Derince and Bandirma on the Sea of Marmara to the northwest of the country, the Port of Izmir on the Aegean Sea to the west, the Ports of Mersin and Iskenderun on the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Port of Samsun on the Black Sea to the north of the country.
