Comoros-Flagged Cargo Ship Grounded Off Bosphorus, Istanbul
A 100-metre cargo ship, Razouk, flying the Comoros flag, has run aground off Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait near Kisirkaya, Sariyer. The vessel was en route to anchor at Constanta Port in Romania when the grounding occurred, though the cause of the incident has not yet been determined.
Turkish coast guard teams were dispatched to the area following reports of the grounding, and operations to refloat the stranded ship are currently underway. Authorities have not yet released official information regarding injuries, pollution, or damage to the vessel.
The Bosphorus Strait, one of the world’s busiest and narrowest shipping channels, connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and serves as a key maritime route linking European and Asian ports.
Related: Cargo Vessel Loses Steering after Grounding Near Figueira da Foz
Turkish media reported that Razouk had been involved in a separate incident days earlier. On January 22, the vessel was allegedly targeted while sailing off the Cide district in Kastamonu during a voyage to Russian ports. A large explosion reportedly occurred on board after an unidentified aircraft or missile struck the ship.
Radar records indicate the vessel was travelling northeast when the explosion occurred, forcing an immediate emergency course change. The blast reportedly damaged the ship’s bridge, shattering windows and harming electronic equipment and chart tables. Authorities have not confirmed any connection between the earlier attack and the recent grounding in the Bosphorus, and the incident remains under investigation.
