7000, the World's Third-largest Semi-submersible Crane and Pipe-laying Vessel, Passed Through Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait on Wednesday

Bosphorus traffic was suspended in both directions during the transit. The 198-meter vessel, which had set a record laying pipeline at 2,150 meters depth for the Blue Stream project carrying Russian gas to Turkey, lowered itself by filling ballast tanks and tilted its crane towers to clear bridges. It completed the passage escorted by tugs and pilots from the Turkish Coast Guard, clearing bridges with millimeter-level precision.