Turkish authorities have detained the first and third captains of a cargo ship involved in a collision off Istanbul, which resulted in the sinking of another vessel. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning, approximately 18 nautical miles south of Silivri, involving the Turkish-flagged Tugberk Imamoglu and the Alsu. The Tugberk Imamoglu, transporting rolled steel and construction rebar, is believed to have sunk, and search efforts are ongoing for the ten-member crew who remain missing.
Following the collision, nine crew members from the Alsu, excluding the cook, were questioned as part of the investigation. They were held on board the vessel under gendarmerie supervision while criminal and administrative inquiries took place. Alcohol tests on the suspects returned negative results, and blood samples were collected for further analysis. Based on an initial expert report, the first and third captains were referred to court, where they were subsequently arrested.
The owner of the sunken Tugberk Imamoglu claimed that the captain had warned him of the impending collision. He suggested that the other ship struck at its weakest point, leading to the capsizing. Communication records revealed that both captains had acknowledged each other’s presence prior to the incident. As the investigation continues, divers are expected to examine the wreckage, while authorities are gathering navigation and communication records to determine liability.
