World · Singapore Bureau
Turkish vessels collide in Sea of Marmara; one ship missing
Two Turkish-flagged commercial ships have collided off Istanbul, with authorities losing contact with one vessel following the incident in the Sea of Marmara on Wednesday.
LSN Singapore ·
The collision occurred in waters near Istanbul, prompting an immediate response from regional authorities. The Istanbul governor's office confirmed the accident and reported that communication with one of the vessels had been severed following the impact.
Details surrounding the circumstances of the collision remained limited in initial reports. Authorities did not immediately disclose the names of the vessels, their cargo, or the number of crew members aboard each ship.
The Sea of Marmara, which connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean through the Dardanelles Strait, is one of the world's busiest maritime passages. The waterway regularly handles significant commercial traffic between Europe and Asia.
Search and rescue operations were expected to be coordinated by Turkish maritime authorities. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about vessel safety in the congested shipping lanes surrounding Istanbul.