Turkish authorities have arrested the captain and third officer of the oil tanker Alsu following its collision with the cargo vessel Tuğberk İmamoğlu in the Sea of Marmara off Istanbul on September 2.
The two officers face charges of negligent homicide as part of a judicial investigation opened by the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The collision occurred at about 3:00 a.m. local time, approximately 18 nautical miles south of Silivri.
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Tuğberk İmamoğlu sank rapidly after the incident, with authorities reporting that the vessel went down in about 11 minutes in waters approximately 900 metres deep. All 10 crew members remain missing.
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Operational context
The 90-metre, Turkish-flagged cargo ship, built in 1990, was transporting about 4,200 tonnes of rolled steel and reinforcing bars from İskenderun to Karadeniz Ereğli at the time of the collision.
Nine of Alsu’s 10 crew members have been designated as suspects in the investigation, with the vessel’s cook excluded. Captain A.E. and third captain and watch officer M.E. were arrested after appearing before a court. Four other suspects were released under judicial conditions.
Prosecutors allege that the captain did not meet his supervision and oversight obligations concerning safe navigation. They also allege that the watch officer failed to take timely and effective action to avoid the collision.
A marine accident expert report cited in connection with the case identified serious deficiencies on Alsu’s bridge. According to the report, an inexperienced third officer who had recently joined the tanker was keeping watch alone, without a helmsman or lookout. The report characterised the circumstances as serious negligence and also identified further shortcomings aboard Tuğberk İmamoğlu.
Search and rescue efforts have continued with 18 vessels, five helicopters, two unmanned aerial vehicles and an aircraft. A Turkish Navy vessel has also been carrying out underwater searches.
Authorities have not located the missing seafarers or reached the wreck. They have also been unable to recover Tuğberk İmamoğlu’s voyage data recorder, which could provide evidence about the vessels’ movements and bridge operations before the collision.
Alsu sustained no visible damage. Authorities later confirmed that the tanker was empty when the collision occurred, correcting initial reports that it had been carrying approximately 3,000 tonnes of motor oil.