Türkiye sends TCG Iskenderun to evacuate Turkish citizens from Iskenderun.

According to information published by TRT Haber on February 6, 2023, the Minister of National Defense Akar announced that the TCG Iskenderun ship will dock at Iskenderun Port tonight and transfer the wounded to hospitals in Mersin.
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Turkish Navy's TCG Iskenderun. (Picture source: Turkish MoD)

TCG Iskenderun (A-1600) is a personnel transport ship that belongs to the Turkish Naval Forces. It was constructed based on sister ships MF Samsun and M/F Ankara, which were built in Poland as a result of Turkey's debt to Poland.

The ferry was launched in 1987 and started active duty on August 5, 1991. She has carried out various domestic and international missions, including temporary shelter for earthquake victims during the 1999 Gölcük earthquake.

On January 18, 2002, she was given to the Turkish Naval Forces for free by the Privatization Administration and was added to the inventory of the Turkish Naval Forces on July 25, 2002, after a short integration process.

Her displacement is 10532 t, length is 127.59 m and width is 19.41 m. Her speed is 16 knots. The crew capacity is 160 people and the general passenger capacity is 1500 people. The armament includes 2 M2 12.7mm machine guns.