Bosphorus Halts Traffic As Chemical Tanker With 6,000 Tons Of Cargo Drifts Toward Historic Mansions

IVYAN, a 100-meter-long Malta-flagged chemical tanker, broke down and experienced an engine failure while passing through the Bosphorus Strait on October 11. The tanker, loaded with 6,000 tons of vegetable oil, was headed from the Port of Varna, Bulgaria, to the Port of Monopoli, Italy, at the time of occurrence of the incident.

Due to the engine failure, the vessel failed to maintain its normal passage and drifted towards the coast. The tanker was dangerously approaching the Kanlica shoreline, raising concerns for the Kanlica Ferry Pier and the historic waterfront properties. In the meantime, the crew managed to avert a collision with the shoreline, as they brought the tanker to a halt by dropping anchors and stopping it before reaching the shore.

As part of the emergency response to the incident, ship traffic through the Bosphorus was temporarily halted. It was stated by the Directorate General of Coastal Safety (DGCS) that the tanker was later anchored safely after it was moved to the Kucukcekmece Anchorage. Following this, ship traffic resumed as usual.

Two rescue boats, Kurtarma-7 and Kurtarma-11, along with the life-saving boat Tahlisiye-9, were deployed during the rescue operation co-ordinated by the Istanbul Traffic Services Centre.

There have been no reports so far confirming the injury of anyone offshore or aboard. However, apart from the reports of the directorate claiming engine failure, other reports specifying reasons for the malfunction are still awaited.

The Bosphorus Strait, also known as the Istanbul Strait, connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, handles dense maritime traffic even though it is a narrow waterway. Although this functions as a major shipping route, the strong currents make it difficult to navigate large vessels, specifically when it comes to the sharp bends running along the shoreline, resulting in the occurrence of accidents.

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