Istanbul: Operations related to the entanglement of the anchor chain of the tanker Kalbajar with the propeller of the tanker Alatepe in the K§k§ekmece anchorage area, caused by adverse weather conditions, have been successfully completed, Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) told APA. The operation was carried out without the involvement of external rescue forces. The crew of the Kalbajar tanker restarted the engine, maneuvered the vessel out of shallow waters, and safely moved it into deeper waters. No damage was caused to the vessel as a result of the incident, and no harm to the marine environment or any leakage was recorded. The Kalbajar tanker is now fully operational and awaiting instructions for its next voyage.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, due to strong winds in the anchorage area of K§k§ekmece off the coast of Florya in Istanbul, the anchor chain of the Azerbaijan-flagged tanker Kalbajar became entangled with the propeller of the nearby Trkiye-flagged tanker Alatepe. The relevant authorities were immediately informed of the incident. In accordance with existing procedures, teams from the port authority were dispatched to the area. Technical operations were carried out on both vessels, and efforts were ongoing to safely release the anchor chain. There was no cargo on board the vessel at the time of the incident. The situation was under control, and there were no concerns regarding the safety of the crew. Further details on the progress of the response operations were promised.
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure also confirmed the incident, stating that two tankers sailing under the flags of Azerbaijan and Trkiye made contact off the coast of Florya in Istanbul after a distress signal was received. The ministry noted that rescue teams were dispatched to the area to address the situation.