Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced new regulations on security checks at airports. According to the draft bill, all passengers will be searched with a device at airport entrances. In cases where the device search is insufficient, a manual search will be conducted. Passengers who refuse to submit to a hand search of themselves or their belongings will not be allowed on board.
In his written statement, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that the bill, which includes regulations in the field of transportation, has reached the final stage in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Uraloğlu stated that this proposal, which AK Party deputies are working on, also envisages amendments to the Civil Aviation Law.
New Regulations for Aviation Safety
According to the draft bill, all passengers will be searched with a device at airport entrances. In cases where the device search is insufficient, a manual search will be conducted. Passengers will not be allowed on board unless they agree to a manual search of themselves or their belongings. In addition, within the scope of aviation security, private security personnel will be able to search goods, baggage and cargo under the supervision of general law enforcement.
Renewal of the Merchant Marine Fleet with Emission Revenue
Stating that efforts to reduce emissions from ships have gained momentum due to the effects of climate change, Uraloğlu said that the European Union (EU) will expand the Emissions Trading System (ETS) to cover the maritime sector. According to the EU’s latest decision, the ETS arrangement will leave 50% of the revenue to be generated from emissions generated from voyages between the European Economic Area and ports outside this area to other countries.
Uraloğlu explained that Turkey also aims to rapidly reduce emissions from ships by establishing an Emission Pricing System. Thanks to this system, the revenues collected from international and regional carbon pricing practices will be used efficiently and the revenues will be used to renew or transform the Turkish merchant fleet.
New Revenue and Allowance Utilization
Uraloğlu stated that carbon pricing revenues from maritime transportation will be allocated to the Ministry’s budget as special appropriations and these amounts will be used to support research, development, transformation and new shipbuilding activities for green maritime. The procedures and principles regarding the use of special revenues and appropriations will be determined by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Uraloğlu said, “The type, voyage area, tonnage, emission fee rates to be collected from ships, procedures and principles regarding the monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions will be determined by the regulation to be issued.”
Digital Transformation
Minister Uraloğlu stated that in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Life and Property at Sea, entry and exit procedures to and from ports, which are currently carried out physically, can also be carried out through documents submitted digitally. In this way, he stated that port operations will be carried out more quickly and efficiently.
