The captain of the “Filo Jet” decided on his own initiative to sail the vessel out of Kyrenia, even though the port of Tasucu in Turkey remained closed on Sunday due to rough seas. The decision emerged at a hearing before Kyrenia’s “district court” today. The hearing also heard that the boat already had known problems with its engine and rudder, and that a previous water ingress incident had been recorded.
The “court” extended the “detention” of nine suspects by a further eight days, as the investigation continues into the capsizing of the passenger vessel.
The nine suspects include the managing director of the ship-owning company, the captain, the first mate, two engineers and four crew members, all facing a charge of causing death by negligence. Their lawyers raised no objection to the request from “police”, who argued that releasing the suspects would affect the investigation.
According to evidence submitted, the first mate said Tasucu port remained closed until 3pm and that he had advised the captain against sailing. Both the captain and the first mate admitted in their statements that they had known about the damage beforehand.
“Police” told the “court” that the boat sailed with existing damage, an assessment based on video footage and passenger statements, and that the fresh water ingress wasn’t taken seriously simply because it had happened before. Experts concluded that the accident would have been avoided had the journey been interrupted and the boat returned at very low speed. The captain did not reduce speed.
Evidence about the vessel’s certification also featured prominently in the hearing. The captain’s Turkish licence had lapsed after a decade-long break from the profession. The certificate he used instead had been obtained from Honduras for around 3,500 dollars. It was then registered in Greece, before going through a recognition process in the occupied areas. The vessel itself was missing two international certificates, for radio communication safety and for stability. The Turkish classification society Turk Loydu is expected in the occupied areas today to check, among other things, the authenticity of the inspection documents.
Autopsies showed the victims died by drowning. Hundreds of statements have been taken, while toxicology results for the suspects remain pending.
Today marks the fifth day of the investigation, with the death toll standing at nine and 19 people still missing, after another body was found yesterday. The wreck was located at a depth of around 550 metres, and operations are continuing around the clock using underwater robots, with the Turkish vessels TCG Işın and TCG Alemdar in the area. A technical team from Turkey’s naval accident investigation service is preparing a preliminary report.
New testimony also continues to emerge. One survivor described forcing open a jammed door by climbing over metal bars and seats, allowing around 50 people to escape, but said he was unable to reach a young girl before the boat rose vertically. Two of his relatives remain missing.
The shipwreck has already shaken the occupied north’s “governing” coalition. Its “prime minister”, Unal Ustel, removed “minister” of public works and transport Erhan Arikli. The decision was signed by Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. The Renaissance Party, led by Arikli, subsequently decided to leave the tripartite coalition with the National Unity Party and the Democratic Party, with the decision due to be submitted in writing today.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz is expected in the occupied areas today on a condolence visit.
