Relevant institutions, including the Naval Forces, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, AFAD and the Red Crescent, are involved in the search and rescue efforts initiated after the ship named "Tuğberk İmamoğlu" sank, which collided with the "MT Alsu" tanker in the Marmara Sea on September 2.
In the work, 18 floating elements, 5 helicopters, 2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 1 aircraft and the TCG Akın rescue and backup ship of the Naval Forces, which conducts underwater searches, are on duty.
After the accident, the work is monitored instantly in the crisis center established by the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate in Silivri.
Relatives of the crew, who were monitoring the search and rescue efforts in the region, together with Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, boarded the Navy's TCG Akın rescue and backup ship, which located the sinking ship.
On the ship, Northern Sea Area Commander Vice Admiral Ramazan Özoğul and Coast Guard Marmara and Straits Regional Commander Rear Admiral Serkan Tezel gave information to Governor Gül and the crew's relatives.
"The search continues in an area of 550 square kilometers"
In his statement to journalists on the ship, Governor Gül said that the Naval Forces Command, Coast Guard Command, General Directorate of Maritime Affairs and General Directorate of Coastal Safety have continued their search efforts in a coordinated manner since the first moment of the incident.
Gül said, "As a result of the studies, the search continues in an area of approximately 550 square kilometers on the surface of the sea. Under the sea, the TCG Akın ship belonging to our Naval Forces Command, which we are on, detected the wreckage of the sunken ship." he said.
Stating that the families were informed about all the work carried out, Gül said, "Of course, it is a pain, not only the families but also our nation is in great pain. The next expectation of the families is, 'Is the crew inside? Can they be taken out? How will they be taken out?' Our relevant institutions will continue their work on this issue. Once again, get well soon to our nation." he said.
Gül stated that the relevant institutions continue to work with helicopters, UAVs and floating elements and said, "Our hope is this: Is there anyone out there? Have they survived? We are trying to find them. We maintain our hope until the last moment." he said.
The ship was found at a depth of 720 meters
It was learned that the TCG Akın rescue and backup ship of the Naval Forces determined the location of the sinking ship "Tuğberk İmamoğlu" at a depth of 720 meters, 50 meters from where it collided.
The "Tuğberk İmamoğlu" inscription on the ship was detected by ROV, an unmanned underwater vehicle controlled remotely from the surface via cable, which is used in places that are difficult and dangerous to reach by human hands under water.
The empty tanker "MT Alsu", sailing from Kocaeli to Aliağa, and the dry cargo ship named "Tuğberk İmamoğlu", carrying 4199 tons of rolled sheet metal from İskenderun to Karadeniz Ereğli, collided 18 miles (35 kilometers) south of the coast of Silivri at around 03:00 on September 2, and the ship named "Tuğberk İmamoğlu", with a crew of 10, sank.
