Tanker Breaks Down in Dardanelles, Towed to Anchorage

A 182-metre oil and chemical tanker suffered a complete engine failure in the Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelles) on 26 September 2026, prompting an emergency tow to a sheltered anchorage.

The Baltic Star, a Liberian-flagged tanker, lost propulsion while transiting one of the world's busiest waterways near Cape Nara. Turkish maritime rescue tugs Rescue-13 and Rescue-17 responded, taking the tanker under tow and bringing her to Dark Harbour (Karanlık Liman) anchorage until repairs can be arranged.

No crew members were injured, and authorities reported no environmental damage. Strait traffic continued without disruption during the operation.

Engine failures in narrow chokepoints carry particular risk: a drifting tanker can swing across the channel before tugs arrive. The Baltic Star's predicament echoes a similar recent incident. Indian Coast Guard crews rescued 23 sailors from the tanker MT Seagull 9 after it lost power off Odisha, where a quick response similarly prevented a casualty from becoming a catastrophe.

The Dardanelles is a 61-kilometre strait connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Around 50,000 tankers and other vessels pass through annually, making any immobilised hull a hazard. Turkish maritime authorities manage the strait through strict traffic separation, with rescue assets on standby for precisely these events.