Çanakkale Strait reopens to traffic after 190-metre ship Pilatus Marine freed
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The Çanakkale Strait in northwestern Türkiye reopened to maritime traffic after salvage crews freed the San Marino-flagged bulk carrier Pilatus Marine, which had run aground due to an engine failure. The 190-metre vessel was refloated without hull damage and escorted safely through the waterway, the transport ministry said. The incident temporarily disrupted traffic on the strategic route linking the Aegean and Marmara seas.
The Grounding
The 190-metre Pilatus Marine, travelling from Syria to Russia, ran aground at the Nara turn of the Çanakkale Strait due to a machinery failure. The San Marino-flagged dry bulk carrier became stranded, prompting a rapid response from Turkish maritime authorities. The vessel's position temporarily blocked north-south traffic through the narrow waterway, a critical chokepoint for Black Sea shipping.
Salvage and Reopening
Divers from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety inspected the hull and found no damage. A salvage operation involving the KIYEM-1 boat and tugs KURTARMA-16 and KURTARMA-19 then refloated the vessel under the coordination of the Çanakkale Vessel Traffic Services Center. After a pilot accompanied the ship to ensure safe transit, the strait was reopened to north-south traffic, the transport ministry said.
What's Next
The transport ministry has not announced any investigation into the cause of the engine failure. It remains unclear whether the incident will lead to tighter enforcement of pilotage or safety measures in the busy strait.
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Çanakkale Strait reopens to traffic after 190-metre ship Pilatus Marine freed
