Two Turkish-flagged vessels collide in Marmara Sea off Istanbul; 10 crew members unreachable

Two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided in the Sea of Marmara off Istanbul on Wednesday, leaving authorities unable to contact one of the ships and its 10 crew members.The Alsu, a chemical tanker sailing towards the Aegean port of Aliaga, and the bulk carrier Tugberk Imamoglu, bound for the Black Sea port of Karadenizeregli, collided near Istanbul's Silivri district at about 3 am local time (0000 GMT), Reuters reported, quoting the governor's office. Coast guard vessels and helicopters were sent to the area to search for the Tugberk Imamoglu and its crew.There was no visible damage to the Alsu, according to the governor's office. The Tugberk Imamoglu is owned by Zeybe Denizcilik, while the Alsu is operated by Ozpulathane Deniz Tasimaciligi, according to data from the Istanbul Chamber of Maritime Commerce.The search-and-rescue operation was continuing, the governor's office said.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.