Image: MV Alexis
In a recent incident, maritime traffic came to a standstill in Turkey’s vital Bosphorus Strait on May 7, 2024, due to an engine failure issue involving a bulk carrier at the strait’s southern end, according to shipping agent Tribeca.
Tribeca reported that the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Alexis suffered an engine breakdown at 5 a.m. (0200 GMT). The vessel, en route from Ukraine to Egypt, ran aground near the Haydarpasa barrier on Istanbul’s Asian shoreline of the Bosphorus Strait.
The Directorate General of Coastal Safety acknowledged that the malfunction caused the 229-meter-long vessel to run aground. Following an underwater inspection conducted by divers, the emergency response vessel, Nenehatun, arrived at the affected area.
The Bosphorus Strait serves as one of the world’s busiest waterways, connecting the Black and Marmara Seas. This incident underscores the challenges and hazards associated with navigating this critical passage.
Updates on the situation are anticipated as efforts persist to salvage the vessel and resume regular maritime traffic flow in the Bosphorus Strait.
Source: Reuters
