Rudder Failure On 114-meter Tanker Shuts Down Operations In World’s Narrowest Strait

Tanker in Bosphorus Strait — Image for representation purposes only

Ship traffic in Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait was temporarily suspended on November 17, 2024, after a 114-meter tanker experienced a rudder failure while en route from Russia to Kocaeli, Türkiye.

The Turkish Ministry of Transportation reported that a mechanical fault in the critical waterway led to a halt in maritime operations in both directions.

The vessel, the Nazan, experienced a malfunction while navigating the busy strait, and the Turkish Coast Guard responded immediately by deploying tugboats to assist.

The vessel was safely anchored in the Ahirkapi anchorage area after the rudder failure, averting further problems.

According to the Turkish Coastal Safety Directorate, the traffic was suspended for several hours until it was resolved overnight.

Northbound traffic on the Bosphorus resumed at 12:50 a.m. local time on Monday (2150 GMT Sunday), as planned.

The Bosphorus Strait, the world’s narrowest strait, is crucial for the international trade. The strait connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea and beyond to the Mediterranean. It handles heavy vessel traffic daily.

The response teams of Türkiye swiftly handled the mechanical failure and ensured the safe resumption of operations.

Maritime authorities are currently investigating the incident and the circumstances that led to the cause of the rudder failure.

References: Reuters, YeniSafak

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