It is operated by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD)[citation needed] and serves a hinterland which includes the country's most industrialised areas.

With an annual cargo volume exceeding six million metric tons (MT), it is Turkey's fourth-biggest port after Mersin, Ambarlı and Izmir.

The depth of water at the quays varies between 5 and 10 m. The vessels in the port are protected by two breakwaters from all kinds of effects caused by the weather and sea.

The space for container terminal is nearly 100.000 m2 with a holding capacity of 15,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

There is a bi-weekly ro-pax cargo and passenger ferry service between the ports Haydarpaşa and Chornomorsk, Ukraine.

Pilotage is compulsory for berthing, unberthing and anchoring, a service provided round the clock by the Turkish Maritime Administration (TDİ).

Pilots meet vessels west of a line passing through the light on the breakwater of Kumkapı Fishing Boat Harbour on the European side of Sea of Marmara.