A CARGO ship has crashed into one of the most beautiful water front houses in Istanbul causing millions of dollars worth of damage.

The accident happened after the ship’s rudder failed and it smashed into the ‘Ethem Pertev’ mansion, located on the Bosporus in the Kanica neighbourhood.

The 106 metre long, 6,476 tonne ship called Majed and Randy is a Sierra Leone-registered dry cargo vessel that was heading to Beirut from Istanbul.

After the collision the damaged ship dropped anchor under a nearby Bridge and was then towed to a local port.

Amazingly there was no injuries or environmental threats after the accident, said the Centre For Vessel Traffic Services.

Although the Bosphorous strait is a busy centre of international maritime traffic on route from the Black Sea to the Mediterraen it is unusual for ships to collide with the historic water front properties.

The mansion, built in the 1890s, is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Istanbul’s famous waterfront dwellings.