Turkish coastguard searches for 10 crew after cargo ships collide off Istanbul

September 2, 2026 at 11:58 AM1 min

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Turkish coastguard launched a search and rescue operation after two Turkish-flagged cargo ships collided in the Marmara Sea off Istanbul early Wednesday. Contact was lost with the Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10 crew members following the collision with the Alsu, which appeared undamaged. The collision occurred at 3am local time about 32 kilometres south of Silivri.

Key Facts

The collision occurred at 3am local time (00:00 GMT) in the Marmara Sea, about 32 kilometres south of Silivri, a suburb of Istanbul.
Contact was lost with the Turkish-flagged Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10 crew members after the collision.
The other vessel, the Turkish-flagged Alsu, appeared undamaged, according to the Istanbul governor's office.
Numerous naval units from the coast guard's Marmara and Bosphorus Command and a coast guard helicopter were dispatched to the scene.

Collision Details

Two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided in the Marmara Sea off Istanbul at 3am local time on Wednesday. The collision site was a little more than 20 miles (32 kilometres) south of Silivri, a suburb of Turkey's largest city. The Istanbul governor's office confirmed the collision in a statement on Wednesday.

Search and Rescue

Turkiye's coastguard launched a search and rescue operation after contact was lost with the Tugberk Imamoglu and its crew of 10. Numerous naval units from the coast guard's Marmara and Bosphorus Command and a coast guard helicopter were dispatched to the scene. The Alsu, the other vessel involved, appeared undamaged, according to the governor's office.