7 May 2024 (Lloyd's List) - THE Bosporus Strait in Istanbul is closed to traffic in both directions after a bulk carrier ran aground earlier this morning.

The 2012-built, Liberia flagged, 81,623 dwt Alexis (IMO: 9609158) was en route to Port Said, Egypt, from Yuzhnyi, Ukraine. The Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety said on X that the bulker experienced machinery failure, resulting in grounding near the Haydarpasa breakwater shallow water area during its passage through the Bosporus Strait towards the Sea of Marmara. No pollution has been reported.

Four tugs, a fast rescue boat and divers have all been sent to the incident, which a Lloyd’s List casualty report said occurred at 0430 hrs. The strait remains closed.

This is the second time the strait has been closed to traffic in two days. A rudder failure on the Cameroon-flagged general cargoship Brabus (IMO: 5278470) suspended traffic in the morning of May 6. It was reopened to vessels at 0800 hrs yesterday after Brabus was towed by a tug to anchorage at Buyukdere, Istanbul.