Istanbul:Ship traffic in the Istanbul Strait was suspended on Sunday after a Malta-flagged chemical tanker encountered engine failure while en route to Italy, as reported by Türkiye's General Directorate of Coastal Safety.

According to Anadolu Agency, the 110-meter-long vessel named Ivyan, which was transporting 6,000 tons of vegetable oil from Bulgaria to Italy, experienced an engine malfunction during its transit through the strait.

After the incident, the tanker anchored off the Kanlica area. In response, the Coast Guard and the General Directorate of Coastal Safety deployed the Kurtarma 7 and Kurtarma 11 tugboats, along with the Tahlisiye 9 rescue boat, to provide assistance.

As a result of the malfunction, ship traffic through the strait was halted. Authorities have stated that the tanker will be moved to the Kucukcekmece anchorage area for securing.

Footage captured by residents on mobile phones showed the tanker coming to a stop at the last moment, appearing to narrowly avoid approaching the shore.