[REVISION HISTORY]

Maritime accidents and search operations in Turkey

Updated 17 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-26 16:04 UTC → 2026-10-11 11:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

On September 2, 2026, the Turkish-flagged cargo vessel Tuğberk İmamoğlu, carrying 4,199 tons of steel, collided with the tanker Alsu in the Sea of Marmara near Silivri. The Tuğberk İmamoğlu sank within 11 minutes, leaving 10 crew members missing. Preliminary investigations cited severe bridge discipline failures on both ships. On the Alsu, Captain Ahmet Erarslan was reportedly sleeping during the impact, leaving the bridge under the sole supervision of third captain Murat Evciman, who had joined the vessel only one day prior. The Tuğberk İmamoğlu was found to have malfunctioning or improperly configured AIS data and performed an unexpected starboard maneuver in the final 0.5 nautical miles, which investigators described as the “active trigger” for the collision. Search operations, involving the Turkish Navy, Coast Guard, AFAD, and Kızılay, have continued for ~~over two~~ weeks. While the wreckage was located at a depth of 720 to 1,000 meters using advanced sonar systems and remotely operated vehicles (ROV) from the TCG Akın, the recovery of survivors has been unsuccessful. On September 14, authorities confirmed the recovery of the body of the Tuğberk İmamoğlu’s captain, Yaşar ~~Kayhan, approximately five kilometers from the collision site.~~ Kayhan. As of September 25, Prime Minister Üstel announced that search operations remain ongoing, though no additional bodies have been found. ~~Technical teams have scanned all compartments and seating areas of the vessel without locating further remains. However, the~~ The ship’s Voyage Data Recorder ~~(VDR), or black box,~~ (VDR) has been recovered ~~and handed over to police~~ for investigation. ~~Search~~ On October 11, retired Rear Admiral Yankı Bağcıoğlu called for continued efforts ~~involving~~ to find the ~~TCG Işın, TCG Alemdar,~~ nine remaining missing sailors. He proposed forming an independent technical committee and suggested that if the ~~Prime Deep Sea~~ vessel ~~continue across air, land, and sea. In response~~ cannot be raised, authorities should create controlled access points to the ~~ongoing crisis, the Platform of Families of Those Who Lost Their Lives in Maritime Accidents is demanding greater transparency.~~ wreck to allow ROVs to search enclosed compartments or remove specific sections to recover remains. Bağcıoğlu urged that any decision to cease operations be supported by a “reasoned technical report” rather than verbal statements.

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