Two Turkish-flagged commercial vessels collided in the Sea of Marmara on Wednesday morning. The cargo ship Tuğberk İmamoğlu, which had 10 crew members on board, is feared to have sunk following the accident.
According to a statement from the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs, a distress signal reached the search and rescue system at 03:26 from a vessel off Silivri. An analysis of the signal determined that the call had come from Tuğberk İmamoğlu, and attempts were made to contact the vessel via the Turkish radio channel.
The captain of the tanker Alsu reported to the Vessel Traffic Services Center at 03:41 that they had collided at approximately 03:15 with a vessel whose identity they could not determine. Signal analysis and the ensuing investigation established that the vessel involved in the collision was Tuğberk İmamoğlu.

Search and rescue efforts continue
Search and rescue operations began immediately after the accident. The first maritime unit headed to the area at 04:10.
Tuğberk İmamoğlu is feared to have sunk because it did not respond to calls and the crew did not answer calls to their mobile phones.
Fourteen maritime search and rescue units and a helicopter are operating at the scene. The tanker Alsu, which was damaged in the collision, is also taking part in the search and rescue efforts.
The Istanbul Governor’s Office announced after the accident that contact could not be established with one of the vessels or its 10-member crew.