Cargo ship sinks in Marmara Sea, rescue operation underway for crew

Türkiye’s General Directorate of Coastal Safety, under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, dispatched KEGM-6 and KIYEM-4 fast rescue boats to the scene immediately after the incident was reported.

Bursa Governor Mahmut Demirtas confirmed that two teams from the General Directorate of Coastal Police and a team from the Bandırma district of Balıkesir were mobilized following the incident. Efforts are underway to rescue the six crew members, believed to be Turkish citizens, from the sunken ship.

Demirtaş highlighted the challenging conditions, with waves reaching up to 3 meters in height. The Coast Guard Command is coordinating rescue efforts from its base in the Mudanya district.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure reported that the AIS signal from the Batuhan A was abruptly cut off at 7:12 a.m., prompting authorities to declare a "danger phase" as communication attempts went unanswered.

The Batuhan A had departed from Marmara Island bound for Gemlik carrying cargo around 8 p.m. the previous evening. The Coast Guard Command and the General Directorate of Coastal Police continue their efforts in the area to save the crew and assess the situation. (ILKHA)