On October 9, a cargo vessel undergoing repairs at a Turkish shipyard suddenly listed unexpectedly and ultimately capsized. Two deaths have been confirmed, and several others have been injured.
The ro-ro vessel “Elmes”, which capsized in this incident, flies the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Built in 1997, the vessel measures 101.29 meters in length, 18.9 meters in width, and has a gross tonnage of 5,752.
At approximately 2:30 PM that day, the vessel was undergoing maintenance at Yildiz Shipyard in the Tuzla district outside Istanbul. During the incident, the ship listed to port, causing multiple workers onboard to fall overboard. Simultaneously, several hatch covers and other heavy components detached. Some struck nearby workers who were unable to evade in time, while others fell into the water, inflicting secondary injuries on those already in the water.
Rescue teams pulled several people from the water, including two victims. Both victims have been confirmed as Ukrainian employees working at the shipyard. Medical teams, fire crews, coast guard personnel, and police officers have swiftly arrived at the scene.
Local prosecutors have launched an investigation into the sudden list of the vessel, and the specific cause of the incident is still under further verification.