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, after one ship sank with 10 crew members aboard.
The collision happened at around 3am 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.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced in a series of statements that it carried out retaliatory attacks on multiple U.S. bases in...
Overnight Russian strikes hit cities across Ukraine, the country's State Emergency Service has said. The capital Kyiv, the Black Sea port of Od...
The Council of the European Union has agreed to suspend import duties on a range of Armenian products for two years t...
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
Apple is entering a new era as Tim Cook steps down as chief executive after 15 years at the helm, handing the technology giant's leadership to longtime executive John Ternus.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 1st September, covering the latest developments.
The Council of the European Union has agreed to suspend import duties on a range of Armenian products for two years to support the country’s economy, after Russia imposed trade restrictions.
There's a fresh buzz around the Anaklia Deep-Water Port site this week, with the arrival of a second dredging vessel called the Al-Idrisi, which has now entered the waters off the future port to join its sister vessel, the Tristao Da Cunha.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pressed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to clarify whether Yerevan intends to join the European Union (EU) during a meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek on Tuesday.
Pakistan has taken over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif putting connectivity, artificial intelligence and regional security at the centre of Islamabad’s agenda for the bloc.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment