Tanzanian-flagged Cargo Ship Runs Aground Off Turkey, Crew Airlifted By Helicopter

Seven crew members were safely rescued by a Turkish Coast Guard helicopter after their Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, Rapid, ran aground off the Kocaeli coast early on Thursday, September 18. Authorities reported no injuries among the crew and confirmed there was no environmental pollution.

The 81-meter general cargo ship Rapid, built in 1991, was transporting 2,135 tonnes of gypsum on its route from Bartın, Turkey, to Chornomorsk, Ukraine. The ship went aground near Pembe Kayalıklar, close to Kefken, after strong winds and heavy waves pushed it toward the shore.

The Turkish Coast Guard, along with the General Directorate of Coastal Safety (KEGM), local fire services, disaster agency AFAD, and gendarmerie teams, coordinated the rescue operation.

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Initially, a Coast Guard vessel reached the area, but harsh weather made sea rescue impossible. A helicopter, TCSG-504, was dispatched to lift the crew from the deck, while a patrol boat, TCSG-910, assisted from the sea.

Among the rescued crew were six Ukrainian nationals and one Iranian. All were reported in good health after the ordeal. The Kandıra district governor visited the site while salvage operations were being planned.

Authorities said recovery work will resume once weather and sea conditions improve.

According to the Ministry of Transport, Turkish authorities were notified in the early hours of September 18. KEGM deployed both rescue and land teams to respond to the emergency, and the Kocaeli Governor’s Office confirmed there was no oil spill or environmental damage.

 

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The vessel has a history of safety issues. In August, it was detained for 13 days after inspectors found 30 deficiencies, including a non-functional bridge navigational watch alarm, missing SOPEP documentation, and other life-saving and safety issues.

Previous inspections had also recorded multiple deficiencies: 25 in February 2025, 4 in June 2025 (not leading to detention), and 33 in September 2024.

Officials reported that the grounding was solely due to severe weather, and salvage operations will continue once conditions improve.

Reference: PortNews

Source: Maritime Shipping News