Two Turkish-flagged merchant ships collided at night from Tuesday to Wednesday in the Marmara Sea off the coast of Istanbul – reported the office of the politician of Istanbul province, adding that contact with 1 of them had been lost.
According to the governor's office, the Alsu ship, sailing to the Aliaga port in the Aegean Sea, and the Tugberk Imamoglu ship, sailing to the Karadeniz Eregli port on the Black Sea, collided off the coast of the Silivri territory around 3 a.m.
Coast defender ships and helicopters were sent to the site for search and rescue operations. It was added that no visible harm was found on Alsu, but the authorities were incapable to make contact with the Tugberk Imamoglu ship and its 10-man crew. Search and rescue action continues.
According to the data of the Istanbul Chamber of Maritime Commerce, Tugberk Imamoglu, owned by Zeybe Denizcilik, is simply a bulk ship, while Alsu, owned by Ozpulathane Deniz Tasimaciliga, is utilized to transport chemicals.
AB, PAP
