Four dead following vessel collision in Bosphorus Strait

All vessel traffic was temporarily suspended after a dry bulk carrier collided with a Turkish coast guard vessel early this morning in the important Turkish waterway, according to a customer advisory from shipping agent GAC.    The Cook Island-flagged dry bulk carrier Tolunay collided with a Turkish coast guard vessel early this morning in the Bosphorus Strait, according to a customer advisory from shipping agent GAC.
   The coastal safety ship Sahil Guvenlik 25 reportedly capsized as a result of the collision, claiming the lives of at least four people on board.
   Following the incident, at around 8:40 a.m. local time, officials suspended all vessel traffic in the important Turkish waterway separating the Sea of Marmara from the Black Sea. GAC said normal operations resumed in the Bosphorus at 2:30 p.m.
   The Bosphorus Strait is a crucial cargo connector, especially for liquid and dry bulk tankers, but for containerships as well. According to its website, an average of 132 vessels transit the waterway on a daily basis and 48,000 annually, making it the second most dense marine traffic area in the world after the Malacca Straits.