Admiral Souchon sent "Yavuz" to Zonguldak on 8 January to protect an approaching empty collier from Russian destroyers in the area, but the Russians sank the transport ship before "Yavuz" arrived. On the return trip to the Bosphorus, "Yavuz" encountered "Imperatritsa Ekaterina". The two ships engaged in a brief artillery duel, beginning at a range of 18,500 meters. "Yavuz" turned to the southwest, and in the first four minutes of the engagement, fired five salvos from her main guns. Neither ship scored any hits, though shell splinters from near misses struck "Yavuz". Though nominally much faster than "Imperatritsa Ekaterina", the Turkish battlecruiser's bottom was badly fouled and her propeller shafts were in poor condition. This made it difficult for "Yavuz" to escape from the powerful Russian battleship, which was reported to have reached .