Watch: Container Ship Rolls Over During Improper Loading At Istanbul’s Largest Container Port

A containership rolled onto its side while loading cargo at Ambarli Port in Istanbul on December 23, 2024. The incident occurred around 4:00 am local time, while the 5,200 dwt vessel, named Amnah, was being loaded with containers.

The ship, which was operating under a Belize-registered company after transferring ownership from Russia’s Fesco shipping company in October 2024, started listing heavily toward the dock during the loading operation.

The vessel eventually tipped over onto its side.

There were 15 crew members onboard when the incident occurred. According to Turkish officials, five crew members jumped into the water and swam to safety, while the other ten were rescued by emergency teams.

İstanbul Ambarlı Limanı’nda yükleme yapılırken yan yatan kuru yük gemisi havadan görüntülendi https://t.co/t7jiBMvzUN pic.twitter.com/0kazymoRei

— Anadolu Ajansı (@anadoluajansi) December 23, 2024

One crew member suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, but no fatalities were reported. Initial reports reveal that the ship lost stability due to improper cargo loading.

Port authorities said that an investigation will be conducted to know the exact cause of the accident.

A containment boom was placed around the ship to contain any possible pollution, and simultaneously efforts were made to manage the damage.

Footage from local media showed several containers falling into the sea as the vessel rolled over.

İstanbul Ambarlı Limanı’nda saat 04.00 sıralarında Komor Adası bandıralı ANMAH isimli kuru yük gemisi, dengesiz yükleme nedeniyle yan yattı

Gemideki 15 personel tahliye edildi

Olayda hafif yaralanan 1 kişi tedavi altına alındı

https://t.co/t7jiBMvzUN pic.twitter.com/t19Q1p2W3C

— Anadolu Ajansı (@anadoluajansi) December 23, 2024

Just a month ago, another cargo ship capsized at Mersin Port due to improper loading.

Ambarli Port, which is Istanbul’s largest container port and one of the few in Turkey capable of handling vessels over 300 meters long, is a key hub for maritime operations in the region.

An investigation is underway to understand what went wrong during the loading process that led to the ship losing stability.

References: BBC, USA Today

Source: Maritime Shipping News