Bosporus Strait closed for hours after tanker breaks down
A fault with the vessel’s steering gear forced the Turkish coastguard to dispatch tugs and a fast rescue boat to the scene
Traffic through one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes was closed in both directions on Sunday evening and did not resume until the early hours of Monday morning
A FAULT with a tanker’s steering gear left one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes closed to traffic in both directions on Sunday evening.
The Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety (KEGM) reported the issue with Panama-flagged combined chemical and oil tanker Nazan (IMO: 9373747) on Sunday evening and confirmed the closure of the Bosporus Strait at 2144 hrs on Sunday November 17.
Nazan was travelling from Novorossiysk, Russia, to Limas, Türkiye via the strait when it developed a fault with its steering.
Crew were unable to repair the gear, a Lloyd’s List Intelligence casualty report said, and KEGM dispatched two tug boats, as well as a fast rescue boat and duty pilot to the scene.
KEGM said the vessels and pilot were able to secure the tanker and tow it to a designated anchorage. The Harbour Master has cancelled Nazan’s departure permission until permanent repairs are made and seaworthiness is verified.
The tanker must also pay salvage costs to KEGM, the casualty report said.
