ZEYPORT Upgrades Istanbul Ship Waste Facility and Expands Vessel Service Capacity

ZEYPORT has completed an upgrade to its ship waste reception facility in Istanbul, with the aim of serving more vessels and speeding up waste handovers. The investment affects a practical part of port operations: how ships dispose of wastewater, bilge water and waste oils before continuing their schedules.

The company says the modernized facility has greater operational capacity and can accept waste from a larger number of vessels quickly and securely. It hasn’t shared figures for the investment, the facility’s new capacity or the amount of waste it can receive each day, so the scale of the increase cannot yet be measured from the available details.

Modernization targets service capacity and handling

ZEYPORT says it has installed a new infrastructure system using advanced technology and updated the facility’s service standards. The work is described as a comprehensive modernization of the waste reception operation serving ships under applicable requirements. The company links the changes to more effective waste management and shorter delivery processes for vessels.

For ship operators, reception capacity matters at the point when a vessel needs to hand over waste. A facility able to handle more vessels can offer additional room in the service process, while faster acceptance may help operators coordinate waste delivery with port calls. The practical effect will depend on how the expanded capacity works in day-to-day operations; ZEYPORT has not provided service-time figures or operating details that would show the size of any time saving.

The announcement also leaves open questions that matter to fleet and port planners: which waste streams the upgraded equipment can handle, how appointments or vessel calls are coordinated, and whether service availability varies by vessel type or operating schedule. ZEYPORT says interested parties can contact the company for current capacity, service details and operational procedures.

Service for smaller vessels began in January

A separate service arrangement for smaller vessels was already in place before the modernization announcement. Under a waste reception protocol between ZEYPORT and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Department, acceptance began on January 1, 2026, for vessels below specified tonnage limits.

The service covers wastewater, bilge water and waste oils from vessels under 400 gross tonnage and tankers under 150 gross tonnage. The İMEAK Chamber of Shipping circulated details to the maritime sector in circular No. 116, dated February 6, 2026. Those thresholds define the vessels included in that arrangement; the announcement about the completed upgrade doesn’t specify whether the eligibility criteria have changed.

For smaller operators, having a named reception route for these waste streams can make disposal planning more straightforward. Operators still need to confirm the facility’s current procedures and service availability with ZEYPORT, particularly where a vessel’s tonnage or cargo type affects the arrangements. The source provides no further detail on booking steps, fees or handling limits.

Capacity figures remain undisclosed

ZEYPORT sent information about the investment to the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping in a letter dated October 22, 2026. The company presented the work as an effort to protect the marine environment while meeting maritime sector needs. The announcement does not provide a financial value for the modernization or quantify the additional vessel capacity.

That absence makes the operational follow-through the key detail for shippers and vessel managers to track. A published daily acceptance figure, service specifications by waste type and clear operating procedures would help users assess how the upgraded facility fits into port-call planning. For now, ZEYPORT’s stated change is an expanded ability to receive waste from more ships, alongside the existing arrangement for eligible smaller vessels.

Operators seeking to use the facility can contact ZEYPORT for current capacity, available services and operating processes. Those details will determine how the modernization translates into service for individual vessels and waste deliveries.