Türkiye refloats Syria-Russia cargo ship after grounding in Dardanelles

Rescue authorities in Türkiye have successfully refloated a bulk carrier bound for Russia after it ran aground in the Dardanelles Strait following an engine failure, restoring navigation through one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints.

According to the Russian media, the Pilatus Marine, a 190-metre bulk carrier sailing under the San Marino flag from Syria to Russia, was refloated with the assistance of two tugboats, a pilot captain and a service vessel, Türkiye's Coast Guard Command said on July 30.

"Following an inspection by our divers, the vessel was successfully refloated with the assistance of our Dardanelles Vessel Traffic Services Centre, using a pilot captain, a service boat and two tugboats," the authority said in a statement.

The vessel had earlier suffered an engine failure before running aground near Cape Nara in the Dardanelles. Türkiye dispatched tugboats to the scene and temporarily suspended shipping through the strait while salvage operations were under way.

Navigation resumed after the vessel was safely removed from the shoal.

Built in 2011, the Pilatus Marine has a deadweight tonnage of 56,600 tonnes.

The Dardanelles connects the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara and, via the Bosphorus, provides access to the Black Sea, making it a strategically important route for regional and international shipping.