10 Crew Members Missing After Cargo Ship Sinks Following Collision Near Istanbul

Ten Turkish crew members are missing after the cargo ship Tugberk Imamoglu sank following a collision with the chemical tanker Alsu in the Marmara Sea near Istanbul. The vessel reportedly sank within about 11 minutes, and authorities have so far found no survivors. Two helicopters and 12 rescue vessels are searching the area, while an empty lifeboat and other life-saving equipment have been recovered from the water.

Turkish authorities are searching for 10 crew members after a cargo ship sank following a collision with another vessel in the Marmara Sea near Istanbul early Wednesday.
The missing crew members were all Turkish nationals, according to Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, who said authorities had been unable to reach them by mobile phone.
Officials believe the 90-metre bulk carrier Tugberk Imamoglu sank rapidly after colliding with a chemical tanker off the western Istanbul district of Silivri at around 3 a.m. local time.

SHIP SANK IN JUST 11 MINUTES

Uraloglu said the sinking happened extremely quickly, taking approximately 11 minutes.
"We believe, and have more or less confirmed, that the Tugberk Imamoglu has sunk," the minister told reporters in Istanbul.
He added that no survivors had been located at the time of the latest search efforts.
Two helicopters and 12 search-and-rescue vessels have been deployed to scour the waters for the missing sailors.
Authorities are searching both the surface and the surrounding waters in an effort to determine whether any crew members managed to escape the rapidly sinking vessel.

LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT FOUND EMPTY

Turkey's maritime directorate said some life-saving equipment from the Tugberk Imamoglu, including a lifeboat, had been found floating on the sea.
However, there were no crew members inside.
The discovery has increased concerns for the missing sailors, particularly because the vessel is believed to have sunk in waters approximately 900 metres deep.
The depth and the speed at which the ship disappeared are expected to make the rescue operation particularly challenging.
TWO TURKISH-FLAGGED VESSELS COLLIDE
The Tugberk Imamoglu was travelling from Iskenderun in southern Turkey towards the Black Sea port of Eregli when it collided with the 91-metre chemical tanker Alsu.
The cargo ship was carrying approximately 4,200 tonnes of rolled steel.
The Alsu, meanwhile, was travelling from Kocaeli, east of Istanbul, towards the Aegean port of Aliaga. The tanker was reportedly empty when the collision occurred.
Despite the impact, the Alsu did not appear to have suffered damage, according to the Istanbul governor's office.
Authorities have yet to establish what caused the two vessels to collide.

MARMARA SEA IS A MAJOR SHIPPING ROUTE

The accident occurred in one of Turkey's most strategically important maritime areas.
The Sea of Marmara connects the Black Sea with the Aegean and Mediterranean through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, making it an important link between European and Asian shipping routes.
The waterway carries large numbers of cargo ships, tankers and other commercial vessels every day.
Its heavy traffic means maritime accidents can have serious consequences for crews, shipping companies and the environment.

FAMILIES AWAIT NEWS

As the search continues, the families of the 10 missing sailors are facing an agonising wait for news about their loved ones.
The discovery of the empty lifeboat has added urgency to the operation, while rescue teams continue searching the area for any sign of survivors.
Turkish authorities are expected to investigate the collision once the immediate search-and-rescue operation is completed.