Two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided off Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara early on September 2, with one vessel and its 10 crew members believed to have gone missing, according to Turkish authorities.
The bulk carrier Tugberk Imamoglu, carrying around 4,200 tonnes of coiled steel and sailing towards Karadeniz Ereğli, collided with the chemical tanker Alsu, which was carrying approximately 3,000 tonnes of engine oil and was bound for Aliaga. The collision occurred at around 3:15 a.m. local time near Istanbul’s Silivri district, in a busy shipping lane.
The maritime authorities received an emergency signal from the Tugberk Imamoglu at 3:26 a.m. and subsequently lost contact with the vessel and its 10 crew members.
Authorities said the crew could not be reached by radio or mobile phone and assessed that the vessel had likely sunk.
The Alsu sustained no visible damage, while its captain reported the collision to the rescue centre. Turkish authorities deployed 14 coastguard vessels and a helicopter to conduct search and rescue operations for the missing crew.
According to the Istanbul Chamber of Maritime Commerce, the Tugberk Imamoglu is owned by Zeybe Denizcilik and operates as a bulk carrier, while the Alsu is owned by Ozpulathane Deniz Tasimaciligi and operates as a chemical tanker, Reuters reports.