On the morning of January 4, the 98 meter long, 4811 dwt double hulled LPG tanker Bitihi 2. (IMO: 8817693) became disabled on the Sea of Marmara near Büyükada, Turkey. The Bitihi 2. had departed from it anchorage off Yeşilköy on January 2 and proceeded into the Sea of Marmara. While maneuvering the LPG tanker suffered machinery failure and lost main engine propulsion. The Bitihi 2. went adrift with winds pushing the tanker towards the Büyükada shoreline and was in risk of running aground on Adalar.
The General Directorate of Coastal Safety (KEGM) received a report of the disabled Bitihi 2. and dispatched the 38.5 meter long tugboat Kurtarma-9 (IMO: 9598581) to assist. The tug would arrived on site and secure a towline to the Bitihi 2. The vessels would proceed to the Tuzla Iron Field Anchorage where the tanker dropped anchor.
The General Directorate of Coastal Safety reported there were no injuries, damage or pollution released.
The Bitihi 2. was built in 1990 and has prior mechanical problems. In December 2015 the Bitihi 2 would suffer engine failure in the Bosphorus. The following year the tanker would suffer rudder failure in the Aegean Sea. The Bitihi 2. has changed its name 5 times since 2021 and its flag 4 times.
