OREANDA-NEWS  The transit of ships through the Bosphorus Strait has been suspended in both directions due to engine problems with a vessel leaving a Russian port, the Turkish Coast Guard department told RIA Novosti.

"The HACI HUSSEYIN dry cargo ship loaded with 22 thousand tons of iron ore, en route from Russia to the Turkish port of Iskenderun, had an engine failure near Istanbul's Kanlija district. The vessel began to drift towards the shore, so it anchored," the ministry said.

The Turkish Coast Guard department noted that tugboats are located next to the cargo ship and are ready to help. Since 18.10 Moscow time, the transit of ships through the Bosphorus has been temporarily suspended in both directions.