2 cargo ships collide in Bosphorus near Istanbul’s Uskudar
Two cargo ships traveling close to each other in the Bosphorus near Uskudar collided, resulting in damage to both vessels. It has been reported that the ships will be towed to Ahirkapi for further inspection.
According to official sources, the 80-meter dry cargo ship Ayed 1, en route from Batumi to Saudi Arabia, and the 180-meter bulk carrier Bunun Ace, traveling from Spain to Batumi, made contact near the coast of Uskudar.
Rescue vessels Kurtarma-2, Kurtarma-5, and Mehmetçik, along with the fast rescue boat KEGM-4 from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety, were immediately dispatched to the scene.
The damaged ships will be towed to the Ahirkapi Anchorage Area for further evaluation.
A last-minute maneuver by the pilot captain, aided by the Coast Guard tugboat, successfully prevented a large ship from running aground at Uskudar Beach, where hundreds of people were present. Following this dangerous maneuver, the ship rapidly approached nearby passenger boats. One passenger boat, about to be struck, managed to escape by leaving the pier and heading into the sea.
Coast Guard statement: Ships sustain damage
In a statement on the Coast Guard General Directorate’s social media account, officials reported:
“The Ayed 1 and Bunun Ace vessels collided while navigating in the open waters of Pasalimani in the Istanbul Strait. Thanks to the timely maneuver of our pilot captain on the Bunun Ace, which was heading toward the shore at Uskudar, and the prompt intervention of the Kurtarma-5 tugboat, the vessel was prevented from running aground. The ships have since been safely anchored in the Ahirkapi Anchoring Area with the assistance of our tugboats and pilot captain. There were no casualties or marine pollution resulting from the incident; however, damage occurred to the ships.”
