ISTANBUL — A cargo ship sank in the Marmara Sea near Istanbul early Wednesday after colliding with an empty oil tanker, leaving all 10 members of its crew missing as Turkish authorities launched a search and rescue operation.
The Tugberk Imamoglu, which was carrying 4,200 tons of rolled sheet metal, collided with the ALSU about 3:15 a.m. local time, according to Turkey’s Transport Ministry maritime directorate.
The collision occurred about 18 nautical miles off Silivri, on the western edge of Istanbul province, the governor’s office said.
The Tugberk Imamoglu stopped responding to calls after the collision, and crew members did not answer their mobile phones. Authorities concluded that the vessel had sunk after rescue teams found life-saving equipment, including a lifeboat, floating in the sea.
The lifeboat did not contain any crew members.
Turkish authorities deployed 14 search and rescue vessels and a helicopter to search for the missing sailors. The damaged ALSU also joined the rescue effort.
The ALSU initially appeared in a maritime directorate report as carrying 3,000 tons of motor oil, but authorities later clarified that the tanker was empty when the collision occurred.
Officials have not announced what caused the two vessels to collide.
The search comes three days after another deadly maritime accident near Northern Cyprus killed eight Turkish nationals. Rescuers in that incident were also searching for 20 people reported missing.
