İDO Istanbul Fast Ferries Co. Inc. (, meaning Istanbul Sea Buses) was founded in 1987 by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Originally established with a fleet of 10 seabuses built by the Kvaerner Fjellstrand shipyard of Norway, the İDO today has a fleet of 25 seabuses (with capacities ranging from 350 to 450 passengers) designed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand, Austal and the Damen Group; 10 high-speed car ferries (1200 passengers and 225 vehicles) designed by Austal and the Damen Group; 18 car ferries; 32 commuter ferries; and 1 large passenger ship. At present, the İDO is the world's largest commuter ferry operator with its 87-passenger ships and 86 piers. The company owns a total of 103 ships including its service vessels.
In 2011, the company was privatized for 30 years by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Fare system
The İDO uses several systems to manage trip fare. Since the conventional boats are scheduled on intracity lines and are roughly connected with other rapid transport systems such as the Istanbul Metro and İETT Buses, passengers simply pass through pay gates. There is no pre-reservation or assigned seating, and admission is fairly cheap. The pay system is integrated with Istanbulkart, which is also valid for all other means of public transport in Istanbul that are operated by the Metropolitan Municipality.
Seabuses are more expensive, and they are not as frequently used as the conventional commuter ferries. Passengers pay the fare at the pay gates and Istanbulkart cards are valid. The procedure is the same for the intercity seabus lines. There are no assigned seats for the passengers.
Fast car ferries and conventional vehicle carriers also carry passengers with no assigned seat numbers; however, in the high-speed car ferries, there are separate sections for the Economy Class (downstairs) and First Class (upstairs) tickets. Conventional carriers do not require pre-reservation. Passengers are suggested to reserve their seat and car slot beforehand, although there is no assigned seating in the double-ended fast ferries.
In an effort to improve customer satisfaction and the overall management of the fare system, İDO plans to switch to a dynamic pricing system similar to those of airline companies. Dynamic pricing implies that ticket prices will vary as the trip time approaches.
İDO tickets can be bought from online ticket/travel agencies such as Bilet.com. In this case, customers could be charged a small service fee in accordance with the conditions of ticket sale accord. Dynamic pricing system of İDO is also available to a small number of select online ticket agencies.
Fleet
Fast Ferry + Fast Ferry Fleet (Updated 29.09.2026)TypeClassFirmNumber in fleetPassenger CapacityVehicle CapacityYear builtMaximum Speed (in miles)DescriptionDouble Ended Fast FerryBureau VeritasDAMEN2600112200822Used in Yenikapı-Yalova line; names Kanuni Sultan Süleyman/Yavuz Sultan SelimKatamaran Fast FerryGermanischer LloydAUSTAL1800200199837Used in Yenikapı-Bursa, Yenikapı-Yalova, Yenikapı-Bandırma line; names are Adnan MenderesDouble-Ended Fast FerryDNVKvaerner Fjellstrand2588112200722Used in Pendik-Yalova line; names are Recep Tayyip Erdoğan/Fatih Sultan Mehmet-1
İDO has total of 5 fast ferries. The average age of the fast ferry fleet is 21.3 years.
Seabuses + Seabus Fleet (Updated 28.01.2009)TypeFirmNumber in fleetPassenger CapacityYear builtMaximum Speed (in miles)DescriptionKatamaranDAMEN5449200730.9Names Burak Reis-3/Salih Reis-4/Kemal Reis-5/Mehmet Reis-11/Murat Reis-7KatamaranKvaerner Fjellstrand104491987/198825Names are Umur Bey/Sarıca Bey/Uluç Ali Reis/Nusret Bey/Hezarfen Çelebi/Çaka Bey I/Yeditepe I/Ulubatlı Hasan/Karamürsel Bey/Çavlı BeyKatamaranKvaerner Fjellstrand8350,358,4001997,1998,200032Names are Kaptan Paşa/Seydi Ali Reis I/Oruç Reis V/Piri Reis II/Temel Reis II/Hızır Reis III/Sokullu Mehmet Paşa/Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa KatamaranAUSTAL2450199633.5Names are Piyale Paşa/Sinan Paşa
İDO has total of 25 seabuses. The average age of the seabus fleet is 12.4 years.
Car Ferries + Car Ferry (Conventional Vehicle Boat) Fleet (Updated 28.01.2009)Number in fleetVehicle CapacityDescription480Between Harem-Sirkeci. Built in 2007 by Çeksan. Names Sahilbent, Suhulet, Sadabad, Sultan Ahmet8112Between Eskihisar-Topçular.666Between Harem-Sirkeci and Eskihisar-Topçular
Overall + İDO Fleet (Updated 28.01.2009)TypeTotalPassenger CapacitySeabus25490 to 1200Fast Ferry10350 to 450Conventional Passenger Boat38750 to 2100Conventional Vehicle Boat17600 Passenger + 66 to 112 VehicleMotorboat7Sea Taxies6Total103
Routes
Fast Ferry LinesTrip TimeNotesYenikapı-Bursa80 minutesTrip by fast ferries. Cars with LPG and PNG are not allowed on katamaran type.Yenikapı-Bandırma120 minutesTrip by fast ferries, but sometimes by seabuses. Seabus interchange from Bostancı before half hour.Yenikapı-Yalova70 minutesTrip by fast ferries or seabuses. Vehicles with LPG and PNG are allowed only in double-ended type. Seabuses are only for passengers.Pendik-Yalova45 minutesTrip by double-ended fast ferries. Vehicles with LPG and PNG are allowed.
Inter-City Seabus LinesTrip TimeNotesFares (TL)Istanbul-Armutlu-Kumla-GemlikYenikapı to Armutlu in 75 minutes; to Kumla 90 minutes; to Gemlik 105 minutesThe seabus first moves from Bostancı to Yenikapı and then goes to the otherside of The Marmara Sea.Normal 18 Discount 14Istanbul-Marmara Island-Avsa Island5 hours to Marmara Island; 5.5 hours to AvşaOnly in the weekends. The boat takes off from Sarayburnu.Normal 45 Discount 40Istanbul-Çınarcık-Esenköy65 minutes to Çınarcık; 75 minutes to EsenköyNormal 14/Discount 12Bostancı-Kartal-Yalova40 minutesNormal 7.5/discount 6Kabataş-Kadıköy-Bursa120 minutesNormal 21/Discount 16
Inner-City Seabus LinesTrip TimeNotesFares (TL)Bostancı-Kadıköy-Yenikapı-BakırköyFrom Bostancı 20 minutes to Kadıköy;30 minutes to Yenikapı;55 minutes to BakırköyToken 6 Normal 4 Discount 2,65Bostancı-Kabataş25 minutesSome trips overstop at Kadıköy. No trips on Sunday and Holidays.Token 6 Normal 4 Discount 2,65Bostancı-Kabataş-Kadıköy-Bakırköy-Avcılar-BüyükçekmeceSee this In winter, no trips to Büyükçekmece. Usually interchange in Bakırköy to go Bostancı. Only in weekdays.Token 6 Normal 4 Discount 2,65Pendik-Kartal-Maltepe-Bostancı-Kabataş-Bakırköy-AvcılarFrom Pendik, 15 minutes to Kartal; 30 minutes to Maltepe; 50 minutes to BostancıPassengers must interchange in Bostancı pier to go to the European Side. Only in weekdays.Token 6 Normal 4 Discount 2,65Kabataş-Princes' Islands-BostancıFrom Kabataş, 20 min to Kınalı, 30 min to Burgaz, 45 min to Büyük, 55 min to Heybeli, 75 min to BostancıOnly in weekendsFrom Bostancı From Kabataş Token 4 7 Normal 3,25 5,50 Discount2,75 4
Vehicle Boat LinesTrip TimeNotesEskihisar-Topçular35 minOld types of conventional boats. 20 minutes between two trips.Harem-Sirkeci12 min/20 minNew types are faster. 20 min between 2 trips in weekdays and Saturdays.Erdek-Marmara Island-Avşa
Images of the Seabus models
References
External links İDO homepage (English) Fleet and Terminals at İDO Map of Ferry terminals at İDO Buy Online İDO Tickets İDO Ferry timetables İDO Online Ticket İDO Seferleri