The Turkish channel “A-Khaber” reported that the Bosphorus was closed in both directions due to a shipwreck en route from Egypt to Bulgaria.

She indicated that two Turkish tugboats KURTARMA-12 and NAZIM TUR were heading towards the disabled Sparta ship. It states that work to eliminate a technical malfunction has begun, since traffic in both directions through the Bosphorus has been stopped.

Earlier, Turkish authorities said that Ankara is working to improve the security of ships passing through the Bosphorus, and now Turkish tugs must escort ships with dangerous goods, which are more than 175 meters long.

The Sabah newspaper quoted Dormus Unuvar, head of the Coast Guard General Directorate, as saying: “With the amendment made to the Turkish Straits Maritime Directive, (Turkish) tugs will be required to escort vessels up to 175 meters in length carrying dangerous cargo over a distance of more than 200 meters in the Bosphorus.