Search for 10 Crew Members Begins in the Sea of Marmara After a Collision of Turkish Ships

A search-and-rescue operation in Turkey continues after a collision between two Turkish vessels in the Sea of Marmara. According to available materials, it involves several government agencies and is being carried out to locate 10 crew members of the small-tonnage general cargo ship Tugberk Imamoğlu (4,598 dwt), which authorities believe sank after colliding with the product tanker Alsu (3,338 dwt).

Key facts

• An EPIRB signal was received at about 03:30 local time on September 2, according to the Turkish Directorate of Maritime Affairs.
• The captain of tanker Alsu reported a collision with an unidentified vessel at approximately 18 nautical miles south of Silivri, west of Istanbul.
• Contact with the cargo vessel could not be established; attempts to reach crew members by mobile phone also failed.
• During the search, a liferaft with a free-fall system was found with no one aboard. Other debris was also observed on the water surface.

The operation involved a helicopter, 14 coast-based search-and-rescue units, and the tanker Alsu itself.

Specifications and route

• The cargo ship Tugberk Imamoğlu, built in 1990, is about 90 m (295 feet) long and was carrying 4,200 tons of spring steel rebar from Iskenderun to Ereğli (a Black Sea port).
• Alsu is a product tanker 91 m (298 feet) long that, according to authorities, was sailing in ballast on a voyage from Kocaeli to Aliağa.
• Both vessels are registered under the Turkish flag and owned by Turkish owners.

No official comments were provided regarding weather conditions or visibility at the time of the collision.