Cargo ship sinks off Istanbul following collision, leaving 10 crew members missing

In a tragic incident reported today, Turkish-flagged dry cargo ship Tuğberk İmamoğlu collided with an empty oil tanker, the Alsu, in the Marmara Sea roughly 18 nautical miles off the coast of Istanbul's Silivri district.

The impact occurred at approximately 3:15 a.m. local time, causing the cargo vessel which was loaded with 4,200 tons of rolled sheet metal to sink rapidly within just 11 minutes.

All 10 Turkish crew members aboard the cargo vessel remain missing. Maritime authorities lost contact immediately following the crash, and personnel failed to answer calls or mobile phones.

Fourteen emergency rescue vessels, naval assets (including frigates and rescue ships), and aircraft were deployed by the Turkish Coast Guard and transport ministry to scour the area.

Rescuers recovered an empty lifeboat and safety equipment belonging to the Tuğberk İmamoğlu near the surface, but no crew members were found inside.

The tanker Alsu sustained minor inspections and stayed on-site to assist with ongoing search efforts.