UPDATE 3 - Turkey: Russian-flagged ship sinks off Black Sea coast

UPDATES WITH DEPLOYMENT OF TURKISH NAVY SHIP; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Selim Bostanci, Yucel Velioglu and Mumin Altas

BARTIN/ANKARA (AA) - A Russian-flagged dry cargo ship sunk off Turkey's Black Sea on Sunday, according to a Turkish governor.

The ship, named Arvin, sunk off the Inkumu Coast of the northern province Bartin, said Sinan Guner.

Guner added that rescue efforts are underway for an estimated 15 crew members -- all Russian nationals -- stranded in three lifeboats.

Efforts launched by Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and Coast Guard have so far managed to rescue five crew members and recover the lifeless bodies of two others, Guner said.

In a statement, the Turkish National Defense Ministry announced that the Navy had deployed a frigate to support the rescue effort.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan