Shipwreck Log

The 225 meter long, 74269 dwt bulk carrier Vitaspirit allided with the shoreline on the Bosphorus under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge near Istanbul, Turkey. The Vitaspirit had become disabled after its rudder became stuck.  Unable to steer, the bulk carrier ran against the shoreline striking the 18th century Hekimbaşı Salih Efendi mansion. The mansion was nearly destroyed, but there were no reports of injuries or pollution released from the Vitaspirit.

Traffic was halted on the Bosphorus until the Vitaspirit could be towed away. Reports state there was a pilot on board and the vessel had suffered a mechanical malfunction with the rudder.