Search Underway After Cargo Ship Sinks in Sea of Marmara

A major search and rescue operation is taking place in the Sea of Marmara after a Turkish general cargo vessel is believed to have sunk following a collision with a chemical tanker early on Wednesday.

The 3,970 dwt Tugberk Imamoglu collided with the 3,338 dwt chemical tanker *Alsu *approximately 18 nautical miles south of Silivri, west of Istanbul, shortly after 3 a.m. local time.

According to Turkish maritime authorities, an emergency signal from the* Tugberk Imamoglu’s* EPIRB was detected at 3:26 a.m. The master of the *Alsu *later contacted vessel traffic services at 3:41 a.m., reporting that his vessel had collided with an unidentified ship at approximately 3:15 a.m.

Authorities have made repeated attempts to contact the Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10 crew members by radio and telephone, but have received no response. The vessel is now believed to have sunk.

Fourteen maritime search and rescue units and a helicopter have been deployed as part of the operation, with the *Alsu *also participating in the search.

Survival equipment from the missing cargo ship has been discovered in the water, including its free-fall lifeboat. However, none of the 10 crew members had been located at the time of writing.

Built in 1990 and owned by Istanbul-based Zeybe Denizcilik, the Tugberk Imamoglu was sailing from Iskenderun to Karadeniz Eregli when the collision occurred. The Alsu, which was built in 2021 and is owned by Ozpulathane Deniz Tasimaciligi, was traveling from Kocaeli to Aliaga.

Initial inspections of the chemical tanker found no visible signs of damage following the collision.