Turkish maritime authorities said on Monday the Bosphorus and Dardanelles waterways have been reopened to normal shipping after last week's closures due to severe weather conditions.
A blizzard hit Istanbul and other parts of western Turkey late on Wednesday, creating extreme currents and lowering visibility in both straits.
The Bosphorus was re-opened to north-south traffic on Saturday after being closed on Thursday. The Dardanelles, which were shut late on Wednesday, were re-opened late on Friday.
The waterways are the only outlet to the world's oceans for Russian oil and other commodities from Black Sea states.
Turkey restricts tankers over 200 metres to passage through the Bosphorus during daylight hours only. Russia has complained that the regulation is causing severe congestion.
Shipping agent GAC Turkey said just one tanker was waiting to pass through the Bosphorus on Monday morning, while 60 vessels were waiting at the mouth of the Dardanelles.
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