Two fuel tankers collide in Turkey’s Marmara Sea

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

Two fuel tankers collided at the entrance of the Dardanelles Strait early on Nov. 30, Doğan News Agency has reported.

A Turkish-flagged fuel tanker called Beşiktaş Bosphorus, filled with 140,000 tons of fuel oil, was heading to Trieste in Italy from Novorossyisk in Russia. The other tanker, a Bahamas-flagged fuel tanker called Chryssi that was filled with 4,700 tons of fuel oil, was heading to Valetta in Malta from Kavkaz in Russia.  

The collision occurred in the Karabiga Demir area of the Dardanelles.     

There were no immediate casualties reported, according to initial reports. 

The captains of the tankers reported the incident to the Directorate of Strait Vessel Traffic Service in the western province of Çanakkale.

Rescue boats from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety were sent to the scene.

The damage occurred on the starboard, port and bow parts of the tankers. 

The Chryssi was expected to enter the Dardanelles at 11 a.m. on Nov. 30, while the Beşiktaş Bosphorus was scheduled to enter the strait on Dec. 1. 

An investigation into the incident has been opened.