On February 15, harsh weather led to the sinking of cargo vessel Batuhan A off the coast of Bursa’s Karacabey, Marmara Sea, Türkiye, resulting in six crew members missing.
Turkish authorities swiftly dispatched two Turkish Coast Guard ships (TCSG-313, TCSG-85) and two Coast Guard boats (TCSG-25, KB-4502) to the scene of the sinking in Marmara Sea. Meanwhile the Directorate General of Coastal Safety sent two tugboats for assistance.
Bu sabah Marmara Denizi’nde, Bursa Karacabey açıklarında batan Batuhan A isimli gemi için başlatılan arama kurtarma faaliyetlerine @sahilguvkom uçakları da eşlik ediyor. https://t.co/udOpp3cnGC pic.twitter.com/9JVAfbrbvf
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) February 15, 2024
According to Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the 69-meter-long vessel sunk while transporting dolomite used in cement manufacturing to the Turkish port of Gemlik.
As informed, during ongoing search and rescue operations, the team found an empty lifeboat. The discovery raised further concerns about the fate of the six missing crew.
To strengthen the efforts, authorities mobilized more assets in the Marmara Sea. A Turkish Coast Guard aircraft (TCSG-552) and a Corvette (TCSG-GÜVEN), both headed to the scene. Furthermore, a helicopter was placed on stand by but was unable to travel due to adverse weather conditions.
Despite the search and rescue efforts and the continuous engagement in search and rescue operations, the ultimate outcome of the sinking of Batuhan A and its six missing crew remains shrouded in uncertainty. Local news reports note that all the missing crew members are probably Turkish nationals.
