Haci Huseyin bulk carrier refloated in Istanbul Strait after engine failure

The Sao Tome and Principe-flagged bulk carrier Haci Huseyin ran aground in the Istanbul Strait after suffering engine failure on 31 July. No damage to the vessel or marine pollution was reported.

Vessel HAUCI HUSEYIN, image credit: Hans Rosenkranz

Turkey's Coastguard deployed the tugs Kurtarma-8 and Kurtarma-3 to assist the distressed vessel. Under the coordination of our Istanbul Vessel Traffic Services Centre, the tugs successfully refloated the vessel and towed it to Ahırkapı Anchorage Area.

Maritime traffic in both directions of the Istanbul Strait was temporarily suspended during the operation and resumed after the vessel was safely removed.

Haci Huseyin is a 1996-built bulk carrier measuring 154.5 meters in length and 26 meters in width. At the time of the incident, the vessel was transporting 22,000 tons of iron ore en route from Russia to İskenderun.