Wreck of Sunken Turkish Freighter Located via ROV Survey

Wreck Located After Fatal Sea of Marmara Collision

Turkish naval forces have pinpointed the wreck of the coastal freighter Tugberk Imamoglu, which sank last week following a collision with the product tanker Alsu in the Sea of Marmara. According to a report by The Maritime Executive, the vessel now rests roughly 900 meters below the surface, and its location was confirmed through a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed from the salvage tug TCG Akin.

Ten crew members from the freighter remain unaccounted for, and surface search operations involving 18 vessels are continuing under the coordination of the Silivri regional government. With the hull now positively identified, attention is turning to whether recovery teams can retrieve the ship’s voyage data recorder (VDR) or search the site for remains.

How the Collision Happened

The casualty occurred around 0315 hours on September 2, roughly 18 miles south of Silivri, a town west of Istanbul. The Tugberk Imamoglu, carrying a cargo of rolled steel, capsized rapidly after impact. The tanker Alsu sustained no damage.

Early Turkish media reporting cited in the source indicates that a relatively new third mate was alone on the tanker’s bridge at the time, with the master reportedly asleep and no lookout posted. The two vessels appear to have communicated over VHF and arranged a passing plan, yet a collision occurred moments later for reasons still under investigation.

Prosecutors in Silivri have moved quickly, charging the Alsu’s master and third officer with negligent homicide and failure to meet navigational safety obligations. Four additional crew members were arrested and later released under conditional terms pending further inquiry.

Statements and Ongoing Response

Istanbul Governor Davut Gul visited the search team over the weekend, describing the incident as a source of grief not only for the families involved but for the country as a whole. He noted that families are anxiously awaiting answers about whether crew members remain inside the wreck and how any recovery might proceed, stating that relevant institutions would continue their work.

What This Means for Owners and Managers

This casualty is a stark reminder of how quickly a single-watch lapse can escalate into catastrophe, particularly in congested waters like the Sea of Marmara where merchant traffic density leaves little margin for error. The reported absence of a lookout and an unsupervised junior officer on watch — if confirmed by the investigation — points to a bridge resource management failure rather than a purely technical one. For ship managers, this underscores the importance of enforcing minimum manning and watchkeeping standards even on routine coastal passages, where familiarity can breed complacency.

The emphasis on retrieving the VDR also highlights a broader operational lesson: post-casualty investigations depend heavily on the survivability and retrievability of recorded data, especially in deep-water losses. Owners should periodically verify that VDR capsules and float-free arrangements meet class and flag requirements, since these systems are often the only objective record once a vessel is lost. Condition and safety equipment surveys that specifically check VDR functionality, battery status, and emergency beacon integrity can help ensure that, in the worst-case scenario, critical evidence is not lost along with the ship.

For charterers and cargo interests, the loss of a laden coastal freighter also raises questions about cargo securing and stability during rapid capsize events — an area where pre-loading condition surveys and stability documentation review remain essential safeguards. As the investigation into the Tugberk Imamoglu casualty unfolds, the maritime industry will be watching closely for findings on watchkeeping practices, VHF-based passing arrangements, and the adequacy of lookout requirements aboard vessels transiting busy strait approaches.

Reviewed by Ibrahim Halil Ceylan, Marine Surveyor at Apeks Marine.