A search-and-rescue operation is under way in the Sea of Marmara after two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided off Istanbul early on Wednesday, with one ship feared to have sunk with 10 crew members aboard.
The collision happened at around 3 am local time (00:00GMT) near Istanbul's Silivri district, where the Alsu and Tugberk Imamoglu were travelling in opposite directions through a busy shipping lane.
Authorities said the Alsu, which was carrying about 3,000 tonnes of engine oil, showed no visible damage. But rescuers have been unable to contact the Tugberk Imamoglu or any of its 10 crew members.
The Turkish Coast Guard and maritime authorities quickly mobilised after the collision, sending 14 coastguard vessels and a helicopter to search the area.
The maritime affairs authority said its rescue centre received an emergency signal from the Tugberk Imamoglu at 3:26am. Fifteen minutes later, the captain of the Alsu reported that his vessel had collided with an unidentified ship.
Repeated attempts to contact the Tugberk Imamoglu by radio and mobile phone failed.
With no response from the vessel, authorities said they believed it had sunk.
"The Tugberk Imamoglu has not responded to any calls and its crew could not be reached by mobile phone," the maritime authority said, adding that it had therefore assessed that the ship had gone down.
The Tugberk Imamoglu was carrying around 4,200 tonnes of coiled steel and was travelling towards the Black Sea port of Karadeniz Ereğli. The Alsu was heading towards the Aegean port of Aliaga.
The accident occurred in one of the region's heavily used shipping routes, underscoring the challenges faced by commercial vessels navigating the waters around Istanbul.
The Tugberk Imamoglu is a bulk carrier owned by Zeybe Denizcilik, while the Alsu is a chemical tanker operated by Ozpulathane Deniz Tasimaciligi, according to data from the Istanbul Chamber of Maritime Commerce.
The Sea of Marmara is a crucial link between the Black Sea and the Aegean, connected through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. Large volumes of commercial traffic pass through the waterways every day.
For now, the priority is finding the missing crew. Search teams remain in the area as Turkish authorities work to establish exactly what caused the two vessels to collide and whether anyone can be rescued.
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