The Canakkale Port Authority operates the port at Dardanelles Strait, which is located near the Canakkale city center. A complex waterway connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean Sea. The channel passing between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, the Istanbul Bogazi, is more popularly known as the Bosporus.

The Sea of Marmara is linked to the Aegean Sea by the Canakkale Bogazi, known as the Dardanelles Strait. The Turkish Straits are very narrow and wind more like a river than the sea. These straits are some of the most dangerous waterways in the world for maritime travelers.

The Dardanelles Strait is almost 38 nautical miles with a width of from 0.7 to 1.1 nautical miles, and it contains a very sharp turn at the narrowest point near Canakkale. Turkish vessels over 150 meters long must use a pilot, and all vessels are recommended to use a pilot, even though it is not required for transit vessels. Vessels not using a pilot in the Dardanelles Strait may expect longer waits than those with pilots.

Vessels can anchor at the opening of the Dardanelles Strait in the Gelibou-Sarkoy are of the Sea of Marmara and at the southwest of Bozcaada at the Aegean Sea end of the Dardanelles Strait. Anchorages are also available in Karanlik Harbour in the Dardanelles Strait near Canakkale.

While there are no strict length or draft limits on vessels using the Dardanelles Strait, vessels between 150 and 200 meters long and/or with a draft between 10 and 15 meters must report to the Traffic Control Center no less than 24 hours before entering the Dardanelles Strait. Larger vessels must report no less than 48 hours before entering the Turkish straits.

There are two piers at the Dardanelles Strait operated by the Turkiye Denizcilik Isletmeleri - Cankkale. Berth 1 is 90 meters long with alongside depths from 6 to 7 meters. Berth No. 2, which is used for domestic ferry calls only, is 80 meters long with alongside depths of 8 to 10 meters. Pilotage is required for vessels entering and leaving the Dardanelles Strait, and the Turkish Maritime Organization provides pilot services. Vessels using the Dardanelles Strait port facilities must load/unload their own cargoes, and container facilities are not available.

Dardanelles Strait port facilities at Canakkale handle imports and exports for Akcansa cement works and for local trade. The Dardanelles Strait facilities at Canakkale and Ambarli, as well as terminals in Aliaga and Karamursel, serve this traffic. Dardanelles Strait port facilities at Akcansa, which also serve third parties, handle all types of bulk cargoes.

Dardanelles Strait facilities at Canakkale include docking for vessels up to 50 thousand DWT that can handle five vessels at the same time. The three berths total 925 meters in length and range in depth from five to 13.5 meters. Dardanelles Strait berths at Canakkale handle bulk and general cargo and roll-on/roll-off cargo.

At 251 meters long with alongside depth of 13.5 meters, Canakkale Berth 1 in the Dardanelles Strait handles bulk and general cargo. Also handling bulk and general cargo, Berth 2 is 209 meters long with alongside depth of 13.5 meters. Berth 3 handles bulk and general cargo and is equipped with a roll-on/roll-off ramp. It is 208 meters long with alongside depth of 5 meters.

The Dardanelles Strait berths at Canakkale can load about six thousand tons of cement per day, about eight thousand tons of clinker per day. It can unload about five thousand tons per day. The berths are equipped with mobile cranes, forklifts, and special equipment for the discharge of scrap, logs, paper, and other bulk cargoes. They include a 10 thousand square meter open storage area and six cement silos.

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