Two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided in the Sea of Marmara off Istanbul’s Silivri district early Wednesday, September 2, leaving 10 crew members missing after one of the ships was believed to have sunk.
The collision occurred at around 3 a.m. local time, approximately 18 nautical miles south of Silivri. The vessels involved were the Alsu, an empty tanker sailing from Kocaeli toward Aliağa, and the Tugberk Imamoglu, a cargo ship travelling from Iskenderun toward Karadeniz Ereğli.
Cargo Ship Feared Sunk
Following the collision, authorities lost contact with the Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10-member crew. Maritime authorities said the vessel was believed to have sunk after failing to respond to repeated calls.
The cargo ship was reportedly carrying rolled steel when the accident occurred. The Alsu remained in the area and was involved in the subsequent search-and-rescue operation.
Search and Rescue Underway
Turkish authorities have launched a major search operation involving Coast Guard vessels and helicopters. The Turkish Naval Forces Command has also deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle, a frigate, two ships and a fast attack boat to support the operation.
A total of 14 maritime search-and-rescue units and two helicopters were reported to be participating in the effort.
The authorities have not yet located the missing crew, while an investigation into the cause of the collision is underway.
Key Maritime Route
The incident occurred in the Marmara Sea, an important maritime corridor linking Türkiye’s Black Sea and Aegean-facing waters. The accident highlights the navigational and safety risks faced by commercial vessels operating in and around Türkiye’s heavily trafficked waterways.
Search operations were continuing on Wednesday as authorities worked to locate the missing crew members.