Istanbul: The expert committee investigating the sinking of a cargo ship in the Sea of Marmara off Istanbul has released its preliminary findings, revealing that the captain of the ship ALSU was asleep at the time of its collision with the vessel Tugberk Imamoglu.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the committee’s report highlighted that control of the ship’s bridge was left to a third officer, who was inexperienced and had joined the ship only a day before the incident. The report further noted the absence of a maritime observer or pilot during this critical period.

The investigation also found that the sunken vessel had its Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off and executed an unexpected turning maneuver in the final half nautical mile. This action contradicted prior radio communication agreements, resulting in the collision and subsequent sinking.

Turkish authorities have stated that the search for the ten missing crew members continues. They have deployed approximately 18 vessels, five helicopters, two drones, an aircraft, and a specialized naval vessel to conduct deep-sea search operations. The water depth in the incident area is estimated to be between 800 and 900 meters.

Authorities also reported that the second vessel involved in the collision managed to dock safely at a port in Istanbul. An investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact cause of the incident.