Ten seafarers have been reported missing after the Turkey-flagged general cargo ship Bilal Bal sank some seven nautical miles off the coast of Istanbul.
A search and rescue operation for the missing crew members, all of whom are of Turkish nationality, is currently underway, according to the Turkish Coast Guard.
The 1974-built vessel sank shortly after it sent out a distress signal in the morning hours of November 1 while it was in the Black Sea. The cause of the sinking is still unknown. The ship is currently resting at a depth of some 88 meters, the officials informed.
The coast guard deployed three vessels, one helicopter and a plane for the mission.
At the time of the incident, the 2,999 dwt vessel was carrying a cargo of cast iron from the country’s Bursa province to Zonguldak, Reuters cited local media.
World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: Turkish Coast Guard