Cargo ship with 10 crew sinks off Istanbul after collision, maritime authorities say
Cargo Ship With 10 Crew Sinks Off Istanbul
Poinews.com – A cargo ship with 10 crew members went under in the Marmara Sea on Wednesday after colliding with an oil tanker west of Istanbul, Turkish maritime authorities confirmed. All ten sailors aboard the dry cargo vessel remain missing as one of the region's largest coordinated rescue operations unfolds.
The western Marmara corridor near Silivri district ranks among the world's most congested shipping lanes, linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean via the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. Thousands of tankers, bulk carriers, and fishing boats transit these narrow waters daily, making close-quarters incidents a recurring hazard for Turkey's industrial supply chain.
How the Collision Unfolded
At roughly 3:15 a.m., the captain of the ALSU — an oil tanker sailing ballast — reported striking another vessel. The struck ship was the Tuğberk İmamoğlu, a dry cargo carrier loaded with 4,200 tonnes of rolled sheet metal. Within minutes of impact, the Tuğberk İmamoğlu went silent on all radio channels and stopped answering hailing calls.
The transport ministry's maritime directorate issued a brief statement confirming the sinking:
"Due to the Tuğberk İmamoğlu not responding to any calls and the crew not answering their mobile phones… it is believed the dry cargo ship has sunk."
The impact occurred approximately 18 nautical miles (around 33 km) off the Silivri coast. The governor's office later clarified that the ALSU was not carrying cargo, correcting an earlier ministry bulletin that had listed 3,000 tonnes of motor oil aboard the tanker.
Rescue Operation and Early Findings
Fourteen search-and-rescue vessels and a helicopter were dispatched to the scene. The damaged ALSU was also pressed into service as a floating search platform, its crew assisting in sweeping surrounding waters for survivors or debris. Hours into the sweep, rescuers spotted floating life-saving gear linked to the cargo ship with 10 crew aboard the Tuğberk İmamoğlu.
"Life-saving equipment, including a lifeboat belonging to the Tuğberk İmamoğlu which had 10 crew members on board, has been found at sea. Unfortunately, the crew members were not inside."
The empty lifeboat suggested the vessel went down with very little warning time. In early-autumn Marmara waters, hypothermia can set in within minutes, compressing the already narrow rescue window.
Back-to-Back Maritime Disasters
The collision landed just three days after a ferry accident off Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus killed eight Turkish nationals and left another twenty passengers and crew missing. Search assets were still committed to that incident when the Marmara sinking forced authorities to divert additional vessels and aerial units westward toward Istanbul.
Two major maritime tragedies within a single week have sharpened public scrutiny of Turkey's ship-safety oversight in congested waters. The cargo ship with 10 crew sank in a corridor where tanker traffic, cargo movements, and fishing activity converge. The Marmara's shallow profile — rarely exceeding 1,300 metres and often far less near shore — means a sinking hull reaches the seabed quickly, complicating both rescue and any subsequent cause investigation.
What Comes Next
Investigators will examine the ALSU's bridge recordings, navigation logs, and hull damage to reconstruct the sequence of events. Turkish coast guard and naval command typically sustain active search for 72 hours before shifting to a recovery phase, though weather and asset availability can extend that timeline. Families of the cargo ship with 10 crew have been notified by the governor's office, and a coordination centre was opened in Silivri to manage communications with relatives and media.
Dawn patrols continue to comb the open water west of Istanbul for any trace of the Tuğberk İmamoğlu's ten sailors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the cargo ship with 10 crew sink? Approximately 18 nautical miles (33 km) west of the Silivri coast in the Marmara Sea, near Istanbul province.
How many people are missing? All ten crew members of the Tuğberk İmamoğlu remain unaccounted for as of the latest authority update.
What vessel was involved in the collision? The ALSU, an oil tanker sailing ballast (empty), struck the Tuğberk İmamoğlu. An earlier ministry statement incorrectly listed 3,000 tonnes of motor oil aboard the tanker; the governor's office confirmed the tanker was not carrying cargo.
How long will the search continue? Turkish maritime authorities typically sustain active search operations for 72 hours before transitioning to a recovery phase, though the timeline may extend depending on sea conditions and available assets.