RO-RO SHIP RUNS AGROUND ON THE BOSPHORUS

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 000188 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON TU SUBJECT: RO-RO SHIP RUNS AGROUND ON THE BOSPHORUS SUMMARY ¶1. (U) On May 28 a roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) ship loaded with lumber en route to Istanbul from Burgas, Bulgaria ran aground in Yenikoy, Istanbul. Miraculously, no one was injured and only minor damage was done to a yali (seaside mansion). (End summary). ¶2. (U) News reports indicated that the rudders of The Ella J malfunctioned as the southbound ship was approaching Yenikoy on the European side of the Bosphorus, an area where the Straits make a sharp turn. The ship drifted to the shore and stopped just before crashing into a yali owned by well known actress Oya Basar. Initial reports indicate that no one was injured, and property damage was remarkably light. ¶3. (U) The Ella J is a 150-meter cargo ship with deadweight of 7200 tons, and is flagged to St. Vincent and Grenadines. The Ro-Ro, which was conveying lumber products from Burgas, Bulgaria to Istanbul, apparently lost control in clear weather. The following morning, Turkish Coast Security vessels were still attempting to dislodge the grounded sea craft and float it out to sea. COMMENT ¶4. (U) The Bosphorus, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and is approximately 19 miles long, has two dangerous turning points, one of which is the site of yesterday's accident (the other is farther north, near Buyukdere). Presumably the Ella J was using a pilot boat, since Turkey requires this of all vessels that will call on a Turkish port. As events proved, however, a pilot boat is of little use when a large ship experiences a serious mechanical malfunction, and yesterday's mishap will surely not be the last in a long line of Bosphorus traffic accidents that have occurred over the years. (End comment). OUDKIRK