Two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided off Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara on Wednesday. Turkey is now conducting a full search operation after contact with one of the ships was lost.
The ships, Turkish-flagged Alsu, en route to the Aegean port of Aliaga, and Tugberk Imamoglu, en route to the Black Sea port of Karadenizregli, collided 18 nautical miles south of the Silivri district at around 3 am on Wednesday.
The Alsu reportedly had no visible damage aboard during initial inspections. The Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10 crew members are missing. The sea where the collision occurred is approximately 800 to 900 meters deep.
According to the Istanbul Chamber of Maritime Commerce, the Tugberk Imamoglu is a bulk carrier and was transporting approximately 4,199 tonnes of rolled steel when the collision occurred. The Alsu, meanwhile, is a chemical and oil tanker, capable of carrying 2,999 tons of engine oil. A report by Reuters citing the maritime affairs authority said that the Alsu was carrying engine oil at full capacity when the collision occurred; however, according to the Istanbul Governor's office, the tanker was reportedly empty.
Turkey's Directorate General for Maritime Affairs said that the Tugberk Imamoglu's free-fall lifeboat was found on the sea surface. However, no crew members were found inside.
The reasons for the collision are under investigation.
Turkey has deployed its Coast Guard and the Directorate General of Coastal Safety and Coast Guard helicopters to the area. An extensive sea and air search and rescue operation is ongoing,
Two Helicopters, nine maritime vessels from the Coast Guard Marmara and Straits Regional Command and three vessels from the Coastal Safety Directorate are part of the rescue, according to the Istanbul Governor's office, Turkiye Today reported.
