Law No. 4490 on Turkish International Vessel Registry and amending the Decree No. 491 on the establishment and duties of the Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs.

This Law lays down rules for the acceleration of the development of Turkish maritime sector and increase in its contribution to the economy, by facilitating the procurement and operation of commercial yachts registered in the inventories of the tourism company and the ships registered in the Turkish International Ship Registry. This Law shall apply to all kinds of cargo, passenger and offshore fishing vessels used for commercial purposes, custom built vessels with special purpose, and commercial yachts. The Turkish International Vessel Registry is established by the Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs. The following vessels and yachts shall be registered in the Turkish International Vessel Registry: (I) all vessels and yachts that are already registered when the law No. 4490 entered into force, (II) vessels, yachts and specially built vessels built in Turkey regardless of tonnage limit, and (III) any kind of imported vessels above 3.000 DWT. This Law sets forth procedures and principles for the Turkish International Vessel Registry; application for ships and yachts owned by Turkish and foreign real persons residing in Turkey and companies established in Turkey according to the Turkish legislation; entrance to and exit from Turkey of foreign seafarers, and social protection and working conditions of seafarers.