Turkish Prosecutors Charge Tanker Crew with Negligent Homicide After Cargo Ship Sinking
Turkish authorities have arrested the captain and third officer of the oil tanker ALSU on charges of negligent homicide following a pre-dawn collision with the cargo ship Tugberk Imamoglu in the Sea of Marmara. The cargo vessel, carrying 4,199 tons of rolled steel, sank in approximately 10 minutes, leaving all 10 crew members missing. Prosecutors in Silivri, west of Istanbul, cited a preliminary expert report that identified multiple safety breaches on the tanker, including the absence of a lookout and the assignment of an inexperienced officer to the watch. While the tanker’s crew faces primary charges, the investigation also noted operational shortcomings on the cargo ship, such as a non-transmitting Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal. Search and rescue operations continue, though the wreck has been located by the Turkish Navy at a depth of 900 meters.