Daijiworld Media Network – Istanbul
Istanbul, Nov 28: An explosion followed by a fire erupted in the engine room of a tanker sailing in the Black Sea north of Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait on Friday, shipping agency Tribeca reported.
The vessel, Kairos, registered under the Gambian flag and travelling without cargo, was around 52 nautical miles north of the Bosphorus when the incident took place. Initial reports suggested that the tanker may have hit a mine and was at risk of sinking, the agency said.
Rescue tugboats and coast guard teams were immediately dispatched to the location to assist the crew and secure the vessel.
Despite the incident, shipping traffic through the Bosphorus continued without disruption, Tribeca added.