A new sea border and customs gate has opened at Körmen port in Datça, on the Gökova Bay side of the peninsula in Muğla province, allowing international yachts and other vessels arriving in the bay to clear entry into Türkiye there, local outlets Datça Haber and Muğla Haber reported on Thursday.
Until now Datça had a customs gate only on its Mediterranean side, with no equivalent on the Aegean side, according to both outlets. Boats coming into Gökova Bay from abroad can now complete border formalities at Körmen and then cruise the bay’s coastline, the two papers reported.
What the new gate offers
The facility is equipped with X-ray baggage scanners and computer systems, according to Datça Haber and Muğla Haber. Two sea police officers and one customs enforcement officer will be on duty at the gate at all times, both outlets reported.
The gate opened at a ceremony attended by Datça District Governor (kaymakam) Murat Atıcı, along with representatives of the local police, gendarmerie, coast guard and harbour master’s office, the two outlets said.
Atıcı thanked the Interior Ministry, the Presidency of Migration Management and the Governor of Muğla for their support, according to Datça Haber and Muğla Haber.
Seasonal ferry link to Kos planned
Passenger transport from Körmen to the Greek island of Kos (İstanköy in Turkish) is planned during the season, Datça Haber and Muğla Haber reported. Neither outlet gave a start date, an operator or a timetable for the service.
Sea links between the Muğla coast and Kos can be disrupted by bad weather, as when Bodrum and Datça ferries to Kos were cancelled during a storm.
For more on the town, its property market and year-round life there, see our guide to living in Datça and our guide to living in Bodrum. Foreigners planning a longer stay can also check our moving to Türkiye checklist.
Sources
- Körmen Deniz Hudut Gümrük Kapısı törenle açıldı (Datça Haber)
- Körmen Deniz Hudut Gümrük Kapısı açıldı (Muğla Haber)
Photo: Abdullah kıyga / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
