03.09.2026 23:30
The investigation launched after the sinking of the ship "Tugberk Imamoglu," which was struck by the ship "ALSU" in the Marmara Sea, and the inability to reach the 10 crew members on board, continues. Within the scope of the investigation, it was decided to arrest 6 suspects who were detained, taking into account the fault status of the 1st and 3rd captains of the Alsu ship. The other 4 suspects were released under judicial control provisions.
The investigation launched by the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office continues regarding the collision between the Turkish-flagged commercial ship named "Tuğberk İmamoğlu," carrying rolled sheet metal and construction rebar, which was en route from Kocaeli to Aliağa, approximately 18 nautical miles south of Silivri, and the Turkish-flagged commercial ship named "Alsu," resulting in the sinking of the ship Tuğberk İmamoğlu and the crew of 10 people on board remaining unreachable.
1ST AND 3RD CAPTAINS OF THE ALSU SHIP ARRESTED
Within the scope of the investigation, statements were taken on board from 9 of the 10 people on the Alsu ship involved in the accident, excluding the cook, who were treated as suspects. Considering the continuation of the investigation and the administrative inquiry file, as well as the security of the ship, the suspects were taken into custody on the ship under the escort of the gendarmerie. It was learned that no alcohol was detected in the tests administered to the suspects on the ship, and blood tests were also conducted on the suspects for detailed examination.
By the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in line with the preliminary report prepared by the expert committee appointed to determine the fault statuses of the individuals involved in the incident, 6 suspects whose statement procedures on the ship were completed were sent to the Silivri Courthouse. The statements of the suspects were taken by 2 public prosecutors.
Following their statements to the prosecutor's office, the suspects were referred to the criminal court of peace. Considering the fault statuses of the 1st and 3rd captains of the Alsu ship, it was decided to arrest them. The other 4 suspects were released under judicial control measures.
EXPERT REPORT REVEALED
Meanwhile, the preliminary expert report regarding the accident has emerged. In the report, the cause of the accident was assessed as "Bilateral bridge discipline failure, complete abandonment of watchkeeping standards, and loss of situational awareness."
Within the scope of the investigation launched by the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the accident, it was stated that the AIS device of the TUĞBERK İMAMOĞLU ship being off, malfunctioning, or not working adequately due to external intervention, and its turn to starboard in the final 0.5 miles contrary to the radio agreement, were the active triggers that physically initiated the collision.
"WATCHKEEPING STANDARDS COMPLETELY ABANDONED
The report stated that the main cause of the missing disaster was 'Bilateral bridge discipline failure, complete abandonment of watchkeeping standards, and loss of situational awareness.' The report said, "The active triggering factor that physically initiated the collision was the TUĞBERK İMAMOĞLU ship sailing with its AIS device turned off and turning to starboard in the final 0.5 miles contrary to the radio agreement. However, the primary root cause behind this triggering factor resulting in a disaster is the bridge vulnerability on the M-T ALSU ship."
"THE DISASTER COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED"
According to the expert committee's assessment, if the opposing ship's maneuver could have been detected from a distance of 1.5-1.8 miles instead of 0.5 miles, emergency maneuvers could have been carried out by the ALSU side. The report assessed that if the engines had been stopped or emergency astern had been given in time, the collision could have been completely prevented, or the impact force could have been minimized, preventing the sinking of the TUĞBERK İMAMOĞLU.
CRITICAL VIOLATIONS DETECTED ON BOTH SHIPS
The report noted that on the bridge of the ALSU ship, there was only one officer who had joined the ship just one day before the accident and was standing his first navigational watch on this vessel, and no lookout or helmsman had been assigned. It was also recorded that the captain was not on the bridge during the accident and arrived on the bridge approximately 7-10 minutes after the collision.
Regarding the TUĞBERK İMAMOĞLU, the AIS system not working and the turn to starboard in the final 0.5 miles contrary to the maneuver agreed upon in the radio communication were cited among the critical faults.
NEW EVIDENCE REQUESTED FOR THE CAUSE OF SINKING
The expert committee drew attention to the need to additionally investigate why the TUĞBERK İMAMOĞLU sank so quickly after the collision. In this context, it was requested to examine the ship's loading plan, cargo securing documents, stability calculations, class and survey records, and camera footage from the time of loading.
The report also requested that all VHF radio conversations before the accident, extended VTS radar recordings, and external camera footage of the ALSU ship be added to the investigation file.