Two Tankers Disentangled Off Istanbul After Anchor Chain Incident Caused By Strong Winds

Two tankers anchored off the coast of Istanbul were safely disentangled after strong winds caused an anchor chain incident, with no damage to the vessels and no pollution reported, according to company and official statements.

The incident occurred at the Küçükçekmece anchorage near Florya, where rough weather caused the anchor chain of the Azerbaijan-flagged tanker Kalbajar to become tangled with the propeller of the Türkiye-flagged tanker Alatepe.

After a distress signal was sent, Turkish authorities dispatched port officials, tugboats and emergency teams to the area.

Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), which owns the Kalbajar, later said the situation was resolved without the need for external rescue assistance.

The crew restarted the vessel’s engine, moved it out of shallow waters and safely navigated it to deeper waters, where it secured a new anchorage. The tanker is now fully operational and awaiting instructions for its next voyage.

No injuries were reported, and no oil or chemical leaks occurred. ASCO confirmed that the Kalbajar was empty at the time of the incident and that there were no safety concerns for the crew.

İstanbul Küçükçekmece açıklarında iki tanker henüz belirlenemeyen nedenle birbirine temas etti

141 metre boyundaki “Kalbajar” ve 115 metre boyundaki “Alatepe” isimli tankerlerin kurtarılması için çalışmalar sürüyorhttps://t.co/xBdC3xmIgJ pic.twitter.com/glZx5nnVR3

— Anadolu Ajansı (@anadoluajansi) December 30, 2025

Per reports, both tankers were anchored close to shore when strong winds caused the Kalbajar to drag anchor and drift towards the Alatepe.

The Turkish tanker was carrying about 2,500 tonnes of chemical cargo and was trying to hold its position in the heavy weather. A total of 31 crew members were on board the two vessels.

Although the ships narrowly avoided a collision, the Kalbajar’s propeller became caught in the anchor chain of the Alatepe. Turkish tugboats remained on standby to prevent further movement and to reduce the risk of the vessels drifting towards the coastline.

Some reports suggested that the Alatepe later grounded and that salvage operations were under way. However, no official confirmation of damage has been issued, and authorities have stated that there was no pollution.

The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed that the two tankers made contact off Florya after being affected by adverse weather. The ministry said rescue teams were sent as a precaution and that the situation was brought under control.

Turkish authorities are continuing to examine the incident, including checks to confirm whether both vessels were anchored in their designated positions at the time.

References: Portnews, Caliberz

Source: Maritime Shipping News