Container Ship Kappa Grounds Off Yeniköy, Closing Bosphorus for Six Hours

The Turkish-flagged container ship Kappa (1,118 TEU, built 2007) ran aground off Yeniköy in Istanbul's Sarıyer district in the early hours of April 28, bringing the bow of the 148-metre vessel to a halt metres from waterfront mansions lining the Bosphorus. Maritime traffic through the strait was suspended in both directions for approximately six hours.

The vessel was navigating from Russia to Kocaeli when it lost steering control near the Yeniköy coast and drifted ashore, stopping just metres from the waterfront residences known locally as yalı. The vessel was transiting under the guidance of a Turkish pilot when it began drifting around midnight, carried by strong currents toward the shoreline.‍

Three state salvage tugs (Kurtarma-5, Kurtarma-6, and Kurtarma-8) were deployed following a six-hour inspection by diving and rescue teams, successfully refloating the vessel. Bosphorus traffic resumed at 0750 local time following the successful refloating. No injuries or pollution were reported.

Authorities noted the same vessel had experienced a separate mechanical failure in 2022 near Kandilli, which had similarly disrupted Bosphorus traffic.

Turkey's Directorate General of Coastal Safety is investigating the cause of the steering failure.