By Zafer Arslan 

ISTANBUL

Turkish police have confirmed that two Ukrainian sailors were found dead early Wednesday in a shipyard in Istanbul’s western Tuzla district.

According to Desan Shipyard Company, where the incident occurred, the bodies were first discovered at 8.30 a.m. (0530GMT) by shipyard personnel on a Maltese-flagged vessel during routine maintenance work.

"We are really sorry that such an incident has taken place in our shipyard, but we do not have more detailed information," the company said in a written statement. 

According to initial reports, the sailors were found in a bathroom of the ship.

"The deaths are not thought to be linked to the maintenance, as no such activity takes place at night in the shipyard," Muhsin Divan, executive president of the shipyard, told reporters earlier. 

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Burcu Arik contributed to this report from Istanbul.