Istanbul: Two Turkish-flagged merchant ships collided in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, Turkey, early Wednesday. Following the collision, contact with one ship and its 10 crew members was lost, prompting the Coast Guard to launch a search and rescue operation.
The accident occurred near Silivri
According to the Istanbul Governor’s Office, the collision occurred around 3 a.m. south of the Silivri district. The accident involved two ships, the Alsu and the Tugberk Imamoglu.
One ship lost contact
The Alsu was traveling from Kocaeli to Aliağa in Izmir, while the Tugberk Imamoglu was traveling from Iskenderun to Karadeniz Ereğli on the Black Sea coast. The Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10-member crew were lost after the collision. Initial investigations revealed no apparent damage to the Alsu.
Naval units join the search
Several naval and coast guard units have been dispatched to the scene to search for the missing ship and its crew. Officials said the search and rescue operation is ongoing.