Liberian-flagged cargo ship Songa Iridium is seen after it ran aground in the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey, December 27, 2019. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A foreign cargo ship ran aground in Istanbul’s Bosphorus strait on Friday, requiring a rescue operation and prompting authorities to temporarily close the picturesque and crowded waterway running through Turkey’s largest city.
There were no injuries or casualties, the governor’s office said, adding that the ship had reported engine failure shortly before its grounding near the shore.
There was no damage to the concrete walkway running along the shore, Reuters witnesses said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nd4qCZ3T7k
The Bosphorus, among the world’s busiest shipping routes, was temporarily closed to international traffic as boats towed the vessel south towards the Sea of Marmara.
The Liberian-flagged Songa Iridum had come from Ukraine’s Odessa and was headed for Istanbul’s port of Ambarli, according to Refinitiv Eikon shipping data. Shipping agency GAC said the rescue work had been completed on the vessel.
Such accidents are rare on the Bosphorus, which is vital to Russia and other Black Sea states for shipping and some naval passage.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has warned about such accidents as he has revived plans in recent weeks to dig a massive canal on the western fringes of Istanbul to ease traffic on the Bosphorus.
The city’s new mayor, environmentalists and hundreds of petitioners oppose the Kanal Istanbul plan.
(Reporting by Yoruk Isik, Can Sezer, Daren Butler and Ece Toksabay; Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun Editing by Jonathan Spicer and Gareth Jones)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,807 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
A major maritime incident unfolded in the Kerch Strait over the weekend as the Russian oil tanker Volgoneft 212 broke in half during severe weather conditions, resulting in a significant...
An intense clip of an OOCL containership battling rough seas has resurfaced on social media, captivating viewers—and for good reason. This dramatic footage, filmed from a nearby vessel, captures the...
by John Konrad (gCaptain) There is perhaps no single geographic feature that has done more for the American economy than the Mississippi River. Unlike any other river system on Earth,...
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,807 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
