Dramatic moment giant ship tilts on its side in Turkey spilling cargo into the sea

CCTV of cargo ship tilting during loading at Istanbul port

Dramatic footage has revealed the moment a cargo ship tipped over in Turkey, sending its containers crashing into the water below. 

CCTV cameras at the port of Ambarli-Marport in Istanbul captured the Amnah slowing tipping towards the dock as groups of crew members run away. 

As crew members are clambering ashore, the ship's cargo can be seen sliding off the tall piles its stacked in and into the port. 

Local media has reported that 15 of them were able to escape the sinking ship, though the total number of crew onboard remains unclear.

Local reports added that three crew members were forced to jump into the water and were rescued by tug boats as they could not make it ashore in time.

The crew managed to escape unharmed. (Image: Getty)

Despite this, only one crew member reportedly sustained minor injuries and there were luckily no serious injuries.

Its not yet known why the Comoros-flagged vessel became unbalanced and tipped over.

Turkey's Transportation Ministry said just over a dozen crew were evacuated and rescue operations were needed, adding that it managed to keep sea pollution from the spillage under control.

It said on X: "15 personnel were evacuated from the Comoros flagged container ship named AMNAH lying sideways at Ambarlı Marport Port.

"The risk of sea pollution was brought under control by surrounding the ship with a floating barrier. Rescue operations started under the coordination of our port authority."

The Amnah was built in 1996 and is over 100 metres long. It had travelled from the port of Derince, west of Turkey's capital, to Istanbul.