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A passenger ferry collided with a Panama-flagged cargo vessel in the Bosphorus Strait on Friday evening, injuring 12 people in one of the waterway's latest maritime accidents.
The incident occurred around the rush hour 8:30 p.m. local time near Salacak, off the Uskudar district, involving the passenger ferry Kamil Sayın, which operates regular service between Beşiktaş and Uskudar, and the dry cargo ship Artvin flying under Panama's flag.
Official statements from authorities presented conflicting casualty figures. While initial reports from coast guard and maritime safety teams indicated two passengers were injured, the Istanbul Governor's Office later issued a statement confirming 12 people were hurt in the collision.
No passengers fell into the water during the accident, authorities confirmed. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals by ambulance after the passenger ferry was brought to shore at Pasalimani Dock.
Following the collision, both vessels were removed from the Bosphorus shipping lane. The cargo ship was anchored in a secure area by Coast Guard Security teams for damage assessment, while investigations into the cause of the accident have been launched.
The Bosphorus, connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, serves as one of the world's busiest shipping routes with approximately 48,000 vessels passing through annually.
The narrow strait, which also handles significant passenger ferry traffic between Istanbul's European and Asian sides, has been the site of several maritime incidents over the years due to its challenging navigation conditions.
Coast Guard and Maritime Safety teams continue their response operations at the scene.
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