A cargo ship, named ANMAH, rolled onto its side as it was being loaded at dock on Monday (December 23), according to Reuters.
Dozens of containers were submerged, with the report being verified to Reuters by the the local governor’s office.
The issue was caused by improper loading of the cargo from the ship, which caused an imbalance of weight on the ship. Reports also add that crew members were able to escape in time.
Fortunately, all 15 crew members were reported to have escaped from the vessel without grave injuries. Local reports noted, “All 15 crew members escaped without coming to serious harm,” highlighting the relatively fortunate outcome of the situation. Of the crew, ten individuals were rescued by aid workers, with five opting to jump directly overboard and swim to safety.
Turkey has 6 major cargo ports, with the port of Haydarpaşa in Istanbul being its oldest and most profitable within the Turkish limits. Its area extends over a range of 55 thousand square meters, and it operates across 5 major terminals with a total of 22 berths for container and general cargo operations.
The Port of Istanbul is one of Turkey’s busiest shipping hubs, typically handling diverse cargo types efficiently. The effective management of these operations is of utmost importance, not only for economic reasons but primarily for the safety of those involved. The unfortunate incident of the Anmah will undoubtedly prompt intense scrutiny of how similar vessels should be operated moving forward.
