10 missing as cargo ship sinks after collision off Istanbul

A Turkish cargo ship, the ALSU, sank in the Marmara Sea near Istanbul after colliding with another vessel, the Tugberk Imamoglu, early Wednesday morning. Rescuers are currently searching for the 10 crew members on board the ALSU. The collision occurred 18 nautical miles off Silivri, on the western edge of Istanbul province. The transport ministry's maritime directorate stated that the Tugberk Imamoglu did not respond to any calls and that the crew members did not answer their mobile phones, suggesting the cargo ship had sunk.

The search and rescue operations began around 4:10 am, and by then, no survivors had been found. The damaged vessel had sunk within 11 minutes of the collision, which happened at around 3:15 am, according to the captain's emergency call. The ALSU, an empty oil tanker, was not damaged in the collision and was assisting with the rescue efforts.

The maritime directorate initially reported the ALSU was carrying 3,000 tonnes of motor oil, but later clarified that the tanker was empty. At the time of the collision, the Tugberk Imamoglu was carrying 4,200 tons of rolled sheet metal and rebar steel reinforcements. Experts believe the collision was likely due to human error, as the Sea of Marmara is a heavily trafficked and closely monitored area.