Ship Accident Off Kyrenia
The second hearing regarding the Fleet tragedy that occurred off the coast of Kyrenia was held in court. During the hearing, statements made by the police provided crucial information regarding the causes of the accident and the status of those responsible. As the details of the incident were investigated, attention was drawn to the responsibilities of the captain and the warnings received.
In the discussions, it was noted that the second captain had informed the captain before the ship’s departure to Taşucu that the port was closed and that the journey should not proceed. However, it was recorded that the captain ignored this warning and continued the journey.
Police Information and Investigation Process
Research related to the ship revealed findings indicating prior issues with water intake, engine, and steering malfunctions. Additionally, it was mentioned that the captain M.Ö. had lost the validity of his ship license for 10 years, and consequently obtained a new document from Honduras for $3,500. This situation was questioned by experts.
In the ship accident that resulted in the death of nine people and left 19 others missing, the parties were brought back to court. Inspector Mehmet Mannaş shared significant details related to the accident. It was reported that the catamaran capsized and sank, and rescue operations for the passengers on board continued.
Inspections revealed that evidence relating to the causes of the incident was collected, with over 200 statements taken. The details of the voluntary statements made by M.Ö. and M.N.S. were also discussed during the hearing.
Another important piece of information was allegations that warnings related to the passengers taking on water were disregarded. Furthermore, detailed reports on the weather conditions indicated significant wave heights of 1.5 meters and a wind speed of 15 knots during the incident.
During ongoing interrogations, it was expressed that the police had taken blood and urine samples from the suspects; the results have yet to come back. Additionally, it was determined that the documentation regarding the maintenance of the ship was incomplete after the accident.
Moreover, following the seizing of documents and electronic items in searches conducted at the home of the company director, it was emphasized that the director would be held legally responsible as the investigation progressed.
McMahon stated that investigations into other stakeholders linked to the incident were ongoing, particularly that a shareholder in Turkey needed to be located. The Kyrenia Court of Criminal Justice decided that the suspects would remain in custody for an additional eight days.
Source: www.diyaloggazetesi.com
