Istanbul:Ship traffic in the Istanbul Strait was halted on Sunday after the Malta-flagged chemical tanker, Ivyan, encountered an engine failure while en route to Italy.

According to Anadolu Agency, the 110-meter-long vessel, carrying 6,000 tons of vegetable oil, was traveling from Bulgaria when it experienced the malfunction while transiting the strait. The Ivyan subsequently anchored off Kanlica.

Following the incident, the Coast Guard and the General Directorate of Coastal Safety deployed the tugboats Kurtarma 7 and Kurtarma 11, along with the Tahlisiye 9 rescue boat, to the location.

Authorities suspended ship traffic in the Istanbul Strait due to the tanker's mechanical issues. The Ivyan is set to be secured at the Kucukcekmece anchorage area.

Footage captured by residents showed the tanker halting abruptly, narrowly avoiding the shore.