The Search and Rescue Coordination Centre's attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful, as were calls to the crew members' mobile phones.

The Turkish bulk carrier Tugberk Imamoglu is presumed to have sunk, with ten crew members missing, after colliding with the chemical tanker Alsu in the Sea of Marmara, off the coast of Istanbul.

On Wednesday, 2 September 2026, two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided in the Sea of Marmara off the coast of Istanbul. The collision occurred at around 03:00 local time (00:00 GMT), approximately 18 nautical miles (32 kilometres) south of the Silivri district on the western outskirts of Istanbul. The vessels involved were the Tugberk Imamoglu bulk carrier and the Alsu chemical tanker.

The chemical tanker emerged from the collision without any damage

Although the chemical tanker emerged from the collision without visible exterior damage, the authorities lost all radio and telecommunications contact with the Tugberk Imamoglu immediately afterwards. Initial assessments by maritime responders confirmed that there was no immediate structural or navigational failure on board the Alsu.

Search and rescue Operations

An immediate search and rescue mission was initiated by Turkish emergency services in the waters south of Silivri. Numerous naval units were mobilised for the operation, including vessels from the Directorate General of Coastal Safety and the Coast Guard Marmara and Bosphorus Command, as well as a coast guard helicopter. The aim was to locate the bulk carrier and its 10 crew members

The search efforts are ongoing 

 The Istanbul Governor's Office noted that the search efforts are ongoing and that it is currently impossible to establish contact with the cargo ship Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10 crew members.

The Directorate of Maritime Affairs has highlighted that the Tugberk Imamoglu is not responding to any calls, and that the mobile phones of its crew remain unreachable despite attempts by the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre. It is presumed that the cargo vessel has sunk.

Related: Two yachts were destroyed, and a businessman was killed in a storm off the coast of Cyprus.

The Search and Rescue Coordination Centre's attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful

 Significantly, attempts by the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre to contact the vessel were unsuccessful, and calls to the crew members' mobile phones failed to connect. The Turkish Directorate of Maritime Affairs has stated that the bulk carrier is presumed to have sunk in the Marmara Sea.

About: The Tugberk Imamoglu 

The Tugberk Imamoglu (IMO 9003548, MMSI 271044604) is a Turkish-flagged cargo ship built in 1990. According to VesselFinder, it is around 90 metres long. Authorities said it was carrying approximately 4,200 tonnes of rolled sheet metal and rebar when the collision occurred. Officials initially said the ALSU was carrying around 3,000 tonnes of motor oil. The Istanbul governor's office later confirmed to AFP that the tanker was empty, a detail that had previously been clarified.

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