ISTANBUL The Turkish Straits welcomed some 40,988 vessels in the first six months of the year, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu told Anadolu. “In January-June, some 19,381 ships passed through the Istanbul Strait, while some 21,607 ships transited via the Canakkale Strait,” he added. The Turkish Straits - the Istanbul and Canakkale Straits - are two critical waterways in Türkiye, known globally as the heart of maritime traffic, as they connect Asia and Europe, forming a vital