Classification
- Incident Type: Grounded
- Severity: Medium
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | MKK 1 |
| Vessel Type | General Cargo |
| Flag State | Palau [PW] |
| IMO Number | 8902929 |
| Gross Tonnage | |
| LOA (m) | |
| Cargo | 13,000 tonnes of peas |
The voyage, historical flag and cargo were reported by Reuters. VesselFinder identifies IMO 8902929 and records the MKK 1 name from October 2022; its current flag is not the accident-time flag. Reuters via MarineLink, VesselFinder
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2023-01-16 |
| Location | Acarburnu, northern Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul, Turkey |
| Region | Turkey |
| Coordinates | |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- MKK 1 was sailing from Pivdennyi to Mersin with 13,000 tonnes of peas.
- The Istanbul governor's office placed the grounding near Beykoz at 07:30 local time and attributed it to rudder failure.
- The grounding interrupted traffic through the Bosphorus.
- Rescue teams refloated the ship after almost four hours and took it to safe anchorage.
- Traffic reopened from north to south later on 16 January.
These facts are supported by Reuters and Anadolu's rescue and reopening reports.
Narrative
The Palau-flagged MKK 1 grounded at Acarburnu while sailing southbound through the Bosphorus on 16 January 2023. Its voyage was from Pivdennyi, Ukraine, to Mersin, Turkey, carrying 13,000 tonnes of peas. The Istanbul governor's office said the ship grounded near Beykoz at 07:30 local time because of rudder failure. This was an initial official explanation rather than a published technical investigation finding. Reuters, Anadolu
Traffic was suspended while rescue teams assisted the vessel. Anadolu reported that the rescue took almost four hours, after which MKK 1 was taken to safe anchorage. Its early rescue report still described traffic as suspended; a later report confirmed reopening from north to south. Shipping agent Tribeca reported no damage or spill, but a final condition assessment and casualty counts remain unestablished. Anadolu rescue report, Anadolu reopening report, Reuters
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2023-01-16 07:30 local time | The ship grounded near Beykoz, according to the governor's office. |
| 2023-01-16 | Strait traffic was suspended and rescue teams assisted. |
| 2023-01-16, after almost four hours | MKK 1 was refloated and taken to safe anchorage. |
| 2023-01-16, subsequent report | Traffic reopened from north to south. |
Chronology follows Anadolu's rescue and reopening accounts; no exact reopening time is established.
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rudder failure | Reported | Governor's statement quoted by Anadolu; no final investigation finding is established. |
Investigation
The governor's office attributed the grounding to rudder failure. The available evidence does not establish a final technical finding, the failure mechanism or a final damage assessment. Anadolu
References
- Anadolu: refloating and safe anchorage
- Anadolu: Bosphorus traffic reopened
- Reuters via MarineLink: cargo ship refloated
- VesselFinder: MKK 1 identity and flag history