Ten crew members are missing after the Turkish-flagged general cargo vessel Tugberk Imamoglu collided with the product tanker Alsu in the Sea of Marmara on September 2.
The collision occurred about 18 nautical miles south of Silivri, west of Istanbul. An emergency signal from MV Tugberk Imamoglu was detected at 03:26 by the COSPAS-SARSAT search and rescue system. The master of MV Alsu reported the collision shortly afterwards.
Rescue authorities could not establish contact with the cargo ship or its crew. The MV Tugberk Imamoglu was later assessed to have sunk, triggering a large-scale search involving 14 maritime SAR units, a helicopter, the Turkish Coast Guard and the Directorate General of Coastal Safety. MV Alsu also joined the search.
Search teams found the cargo ship’s free-fall lifeboat and other debris on the surface. However, no crew members were found in the lifesaving equipment.
MV Tugberk Imamoglu was a 90-metre, 4,598-dwt general cargo ship built in 1990. It was carrying about 4,200 tonnes of coiled steel from Iskenderun to Karadeniz Ereğli on the Black Sea.
The 91-metre, 3,338-dwt Mv Alsu was sailing without cargo when the collision occurred. Turkish authorities reported no visible damage to the tanker.
The cause of the collision remains unknown. Turkish authorities have not indicated whether weather, visibility or navigational factors contributed to the accident. The search for the missing seafarers and the investigation are continuing.
