Turkey Closes Çanakkale Strait After Bulk Carrier Grounds

A 190‑metre San Marino‑flagged bulk carrier named PILATUS MARINE ran aground at Nara Burnu while transiting the Çanakkale Strait en route from Syria to a Russian port. The grounding prompted the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to temporarily suspend two‑way vessel traffic through the strait for safety inspections.

The Turkish Coast Guard deployed the rescue tugs KURTARMA‑19 and KURTARMA‑16, and dive teams began underwater damage assessment. After a technical review, authorities will formulate a salvage plan. The strait, a critical narrow passage with strong currents, was reopened once the immediate hazard was cleared, in accordance with the Montreux Convention and Turkish traffic regulations.