Web Alert: Drones to enforce pollution fines in the Bosporus

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Marine Services Directorate has announced it will use drones to monitor marine pollution in the Bosporus in efforts to improve surveillance and fine enforcement. The drones will complement the Directorate’s existing 24 hour enforcement methods which include patrol vessels, helicopter services and ship inspections. In 2015 the Directorate fined 90 ships out of the approximately 55,000 that passed through the Bosporus. Staff are being trained in drone management and the Directorate expects to commence drone operations in March 2016.