Turkey has raised shipping pollution fines by more than 20% for 2020.
UK insurer Standard Club called this a "significant" hike by the country's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The new penalties have been applied from 1 January.
For pollution caused by tankers, involving oil, bilge, sludge and slops etc, the fine is TRY 774 per gt for vessels over 5,000 gt.
TradeWinds calculations shows a typical VLCC will face a penalty of at least TRY 121.5m ($20.44m).
There are lesser but still punitive fines for ballast discharges, and for offences by other ship types.
Repeat offenders beware
The amounts will be tripled for vessels owned by "corporate entities", Standard Club said, leaving VLCCs facing a $60m bill.
Repeat offenders will have their fines doubled if they suffer two incidents within three years.
This will be tripled should another pollution event occur in the third year.
If the owner cleans up the pollution itself, fines of only 33% will be imposed.
The full amount — or security for it — must be paid immediately, or the vessel risks arrest, the club said.
A 25% discount applies for payments made within 30 days.
Protection and indemnity club letters of undertaking (LOUs) are not always accepted, the insurer warned.
"International Group clubs also have experienced demands for open-ended and anticipatory LOUs for minor pollution incidents in Turkey. The requirement to negotiate any security and/or arrange for the LOU to be translated and/or notarised, can cause delay," the club added.
Criminal proceedings against masters may continue even if fines are paid, Standard Club warned.
