Istanbul: Maritime traffic in the Istanbul Strait resumed on Sunday after being temporarily suspended in both directions due to a mechanical failure on a dry cargo vessel off the coast of Besiktas.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trkiye's General Directorate of Coastal Safety announced that the 185-meter-long dry cargo ship Zaltron, which was en route from Egypt to Russia, encountered an engine malfunction near Kurucesme. In response, tugboats Kurtarma-3, Kurtarma-5, and Kurtarma-9 were swiftly dispatched to address the situation, leading to a temporary halt of vessel traffic in the Bosphorus as a precautionary measure.

Subsequent updates from officials indicated that the Zaltron was safely anchored at the Ahirkapi Anchorage Area, coordinated by the Istanbul Vessel Traffic Services Center. The operation was supported by a pilot captain, with Kurtarma-3 and Kurtarma-5 assisting in the anchoring process while Kurtarma-9 managed the towing.

Following the resolution of the incident, maritime traffic in the Istanbul Strait has been reopened, ensuring the resumption of normal shipping activities in the region.