Two commercial ships collide in the Sea of Marmara

Two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided in the early hours of September 2, 2026, in the Sea of Marmara, approximately 18 nautical miles south of Silivri, southwest of Istanbul. The collision occurred around 03:00 local time, involving the freighter Tugberk Imamoglu and the chemical/oil tanker Alsu.

Following the incident, local authorities reported that there is no visible damage to the tanker Alsu. However, communication has been lost with the freighter Tugberk Imamoglu and its 10 crew members. The vessel was reportedly sailing through the Sea of Marmara toward the Black Sea when the accident occurred.

Search and rescue operations are currently underway, involving coast guard vessels and a helicopter dispatched by the Istanbul governor's office. Authorities continue to search for the missing crew, while the exact cause of the collision remains under investigation.