Boats On The Bosphorous: April 2018

Welcome

We'll periodically post images of vessels that drift past our perch on the Bosphorous. If you are a new arrival, the Bosphorous is the waterway (straits) that divides Europe from Asia and cuts right through the middle of Istanbul. You could swim from Europe to Asia (or vice versa) in about 30 minutes - if you could survive the boat traffic and/or the pollution.

The blog's perch is about half way up (or down) the Bosphorous - not the city's most supreme view. Yet, it's not too high, not too low - good enough to afford a decent view. Then again, anything better in terms of view will cost you upward of a million. Dollars. No... more. Much more. This view is free.

The aim here is to provide regular images and - where possible - further details regarding boat traffic between the Black Sea, the Marmara and points beyond.

It's not CIA - although they used to maintain a prominent viewing location (and probably still do) - The transit through the Bosphorous is Russia's traditional outlet to the world's oceans - most other Russian outlets ice over in the winter. But, there is no hidden blog agenda, no intent to spy. This is just our view and publicly available data related to those views: Boats on the Water. Passing by. Happened to catch them ....

Friday, April 20, 2018

Militos

Militos is heading north with Ayhanlar following right behind.

Name: Militos
Heading: North/Black Sea
Type: oil tanker
Flags: Greece
Date: 20 April 2018
Weather: clear& clouds

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Berna

Berna appears to have changed names.
That happens - sometimes to hide transactions - other times perfectly innocent.
However, for us, it meant a little extra effort : Really this??

So ... assuming we have the correct vessel ...

Name: Berna
Heading: South/Marmara
Type: Carrier
Flag: Cooker Islands
Date: 17 April 2018
Weather: pleasant spring evening

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Vitaspirit

An accident on the Bosphorous today where apparently the steering for Vitaspirit locked up and sent her crashing into one of the waterfront villas, totally demolishing the old wooden structure at about 4:30 PM. There are news articles in Turkish here.

We caught one shot of the vessel as the removal was just starting and then waited an hour while the city puts its resources to work, sending as many as 10 emergency vessels to the scene to help tow the carrier to the southern edge of the city.

Name: Vitaspirit
Heading: South/Marmara
Type: Carrier
Flag: Malta
Date: 07 April 2018
Weather: chilly but pleasant spring evening