Turkish cargo vessel sinks off Istanbul coast

By Aysenur Saglam

ANKARA

A Turkish cargo vessel with 10 crew members onboard sank seven miles off Istanbul’s Sile district on Black Sea coast on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications.

The statement by the Transport Ministry said 78.5 meter-long vessel named Bilal Bal sent a distress signal early morning, while it was transporting iron ore from Marmara port in northwestern Bursa's Gemlik district to northern Black Sea port in Zonguldak’s Eregli district.

“Search and rescue efforts are ongoing jointly by the Coast Guard Command, Directorate General of Coastal Safety and Naval Forces Command,” it added.

A coast guard aircraft, a helicopter and two boats of the Coast Guard Command; five rescue boats of the Directorate General of Coastal Safety; and a submarine rescue vessel took part in the rescue efforts, the statement said.

It also said that a life buoy, life raft, life boat and a rubber rescue boat belonging to the vessel, which sank seven miles off the Sile coast to the depth of 88 meters, were found during the efforts.

Coordinated and intense search and rescue efforts are ongoing, according to the statement.