As part of the investigation conducted by the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an expert preliminary report has been prepared regarding the collision involving the Alsu and Tuğberk İmamoğlu ships in the Sea of Marmara.
The preliminary report states that the collision occurred at 03:13. It was noted that following the accident, the Tuğberk İmamoğlu ship sank rapidly due to a tear on its port side, while the Alsu ship sustained no major damage that would hinder navigation or cause water ingress, other than minor scrapes on its starboard side.
The report identified the root cause of the incident as "Bilateral Bridge Indiscipline, Complete Abandonment of Watch Standards, and Loss of Situational Awareness." The fact that the Tuğberk İmamoğlu was sailing with its AIS device turned off and made a turn to starboard in the final 0.5 miles, contrary to radio agreements, was evaluated as the active trigger that initiated the collision.
Furthermore, the report stated that the bridge weakness on the M/T Alsu was a decisive factor in the disaster having such severe consequences. It was noted that control of the Alsu was in the hands of an inexperienced third officer, and that the risk could have been identified earlier if an experienced captain and an additional lookout had been present on the bridge.
According to the report, if the Alsu had followed the "Watch Condition B" rule in its own safety manual, the Tuğberk İmamoğlu's uncontrolled starboard turn maneuver could have been detected at a distance of 1.5-1.8 miles instead of 0.5 miles. In this scenario, it was assessed that the collision could have been completely avoided, or the impact force reduced to prevent the sinking, by stopping the engines or giving an emergency astern command.
The preliminary report also included information that VTS footage submitted to the file by the General Directorate of Coastal Safety did not contain a recording of the Tuğberk İmamoğlu ship, although the ship was visible on the Alsu's ECDIS screen.
News Source: 12punto
