On Monday, a near-crash of a cargo vessel heading toward the Bosporus shore off Istanbul's Üsküdar district at full speed was averted when the crew managed to anchor the ship at the last minute.

The MV Helga suffered a technical problem on Monday morning and the crew was unable to stop the vessel as it was sailing near the Maiden's Tower off the Üsküdar shore. The Coast Guard and port authority rescued the vessel from the shallow waters where it became stuck following the incident.

Turkey's straits are among the most risky waterways in the world, according to experts. Over 50,000 vessels, including tankers carrying highly flammable oil, pass through the Bosporus each year, an S-shaped channel with sharp turns and changing currents, which poses challenges for vessels and sailors. In compliance with the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey must allow open access to all civilian vessels through its straits in peacetime, although the threat of accidents is an ongoing concern. Between 1953 and 2003, 461 accidents occurred on the waterway.