Ten Missing after Cargo Ship Sinks off Turkey

zoomIllustration; Image Courtesy: Turkish Coastal Directorate Ten seafarers have been reported missing after the Turkey-flagged general cargo ship Bilal Bal sank some seven nautical miles off the coast of Istanbul. A search and rescue operation for the missing crew members is currently underway, according to the Turkish Coast Guard. The 1974-built vessel sank shortly after it sent out a distress signal in the morning hours of November 1 while it was in the Black Sea. The cause of the sinking is still unknown. The coast guard deployed three vessels, one helicopter and a plane for the mission. At the time of the incident, the 2,999 dwt vessel was carrying a cargo of cast iron from the countrys Bursa province to Zonguldak, Reuters cited local media. World Maritime News Staff