Cruise ship Celestyal Crystal collided with tanker STI Pimlico at the Northern entrance of Çanakkale Strait. Both vessels damaged, tanker leaking cargo, reports the leading Turkish maritime news portal www.kaptanhaber.com.
There are no injuries to persons at both vessels but tanker STI Ppimlico is laden with 30.000 MT of naphtha cargo and one of her cargo tanks (on port saide in the middle of the ship) heavily damaged, therefore the tanker STI Pimlico has the risk of explosion, experts warn.
On the way from Myconos, Greece to Istanbul, Turkey, 162 meters long Maltese flag cruise ship 'Celestyal Crystal' collided with 182-meters long Marshall Islands-flagged tanker 'Sti Pimlico' which was sailing towards Malta from the Russian port Tuapse. The accident took place at 01:30 after midnight today in front of the Gallipoli Lighthouse for an undetermined reason.
The 854 passengers onboard passenger cruiser Celestyal Crystal, with 240 of them Turkish citizens, had no injuries in the accident.
Governor of Çanakkale Province, Ahmet Çınar, said in a press statement that passengers onboard the cruiser will be evacuated by smaller ferries and transferred to Gallipoli.
Special mobile customs unit has been formed for this purpose, the Governor said.
Tanker leaks from damaged tank
The tanker STI Pimlico is reportedly leaking naphtha into the sea from the damaged tanks. According to the declaration made by the Governor of Çanakkale district, Mr. Ahmet Cinar, the leaked cargo have evaporated when met with the air and therefore there were no pollution occurred at sea surface. General Directorate of Coastal Safety said that they have sent two tugboats to the scene. Later the number of tugboats were increased to four. It was also learned that the barrier against leakage probability has been set around the tanker.The tanker 'Sti Pimlico' had an explosion in her tanks and listed 15-degree into the side after the accident. Cruise ship Celestyal Crystal with 382 crew and 854 passengers also anchored near Gallipoli under the command of a local pilot.
TWO WAY TRAFFIC was CLOSED
The traffic has been closed to traffic on both directions at the Strait of Canakkale due to the accident. After the both ships were taken at the anchorage, the traffic has been resumed again.
Tanker's cargo: Naphtha, a very light fuel used by jet engines
Laden with 30 thousand tons of Naphtha fuel which is an extremely dangerous type of fuel- tanker has the risk of explosion, experts warned.. Naphtha is a type of fuel which is alternative to LPG and is used as jet fuel. Extremely volatile and reportedly a big danger of fuel vapor heavier than air.
What was the reason of the accident?
KaptanHaber.Com experts has said that the passenger ship seem to have crashed into the tanker from the bow to the tanker's port side but however, it was too early to find out the errant side or to say how the accident happened.
According to the unconfirmed information received from the accident site, the passenger ship Celestyal Crystal had no pilot onboard at the time of accident and was under the command of Chief Officer. It was also reported that the cruise ship was overtaking another vessel and increased her speed to 15 knots right before the accident. The chief officer of the cruise ship is an experienced mariner, it was reported. The other ship involved in the accident, the M/T STI PIMLICO had no pilot onboard, either.
UPDATE: VHF conversations leaked
The VHF recordings of STI Pimlico-Celestyal Crystal has been leaked. In the recordings, the VTS Operator at the Canakkale VTS Center insistingly warning the Captain of Celestyal Crystal passenger ship.
After a couple of warning messages, the Captain of Cruise Ship Celestyal Crystal answering: "No, Negative, Its not possible to turn to starboard, sir!"These conversations fills more mystery over the accident instead of helping to solve it.
UPDATE: Passengers will be evacuated
According to the most recent reports received, the 854 passengers onboard Celestyal Crystal will be evacuated and landed to Gallipoli.
(All passengers later in the day safely transferred to the land and after completing the customs formalities, all were transported to Istanbul by buses.)
Statement from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety
With regard to the accident Directorate General of Coastal Safety, made a statement. The statement is as follows :
"Malta-flagged cruise ship Celestyal Crystal, 161.8 meters in length, which have 853 passengers and 382 crew onboard, while at the exit of Dardanelles Strait and entering to Marmara Sea; collided with Marshall Islands-flagged, 184.26 meters in length tanker "STI PIMLICO " despite all the warnings made by Vessel Traffic Services on Date 06.27.2015 at hour 01.25 in front of the Gallipoli Lighthouse.
Reportedly damaged tanker anchored in the traffic lane as emergency in front of Gallipoli; , while damaged cruise ship reportedly proceeding to the Gallipoli anchorage wth a pilot onboard.
No injuries or death reported on both vessels, while tanker reportedly leaking cargo.
KEGM immediately sent tugboats Kurtarma-2 and Kurtarma-9 to the accident site, and fast rescue boat KEGM-9 was also dispatched.
Cooling operation has been performed on the shell plating of damaged tanker and also the damaged tanks has been inerted.
Information of ships involved in the acccident:
SHIP NAME
:
CRYSTAL CELESTYAL
:
STI PIMLICO
FLAG
:
MALTA
:
MARSHALL ISLANDS
IMO NO
:
7827213
:
9686871
CALL NAME
:
9HA2978
:
V7DL7
SHIP TYPE
:
PASSENGERS
:
TANKER
PORT OF THAT
:
Lavrion Greece
:
Tuapse RUSSIA
PORT that GO
:
ISTANBUL
:
MALTA
SIZE
:
158.88
:
184
MOST
:
25.2
:
27.4
DRAFT
:
5.91
:
11.92
GRT
:
25611
:
24,162
WHAT
:
12637
:
10458
DWT
:
1703
:
38,734
YEAR OF BUILT
:
1980
:
2014
LOAD
:
853 PASSENGERS
:
30,099 MT NAPHTA
NUMBER OF STAFF
:
382 STAFF
:
21
AGENCY
:
CARAVAN
:
HAN SHIPPING
ACCIDENT LOCATION
:
Çanakkale Strait, in front of Gallipoli (Gelibolu) Lighthouse