The investigation into the shipwreck that occurred on August 30 off the coast of Kyrenia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) continues. While the detention period of 9 suspects arrested regarding the accident was extended for another 7 days, remarkable information about the repairs and waterproof doors on the ship was shared in court.
9 suspects, who were detained within the scope of the investigation, appeared at the Kyrenia District Court for the sixth time today. Considering that the investigation has not yet been completed, the court decided to keep 9 suspects in custody for 7 more days. During the hearing, new information regarding the technical aspect of the investigation was also presented to the court.
It was stated that the VDR device, known as the ship's "black box", was found on September 25 and handed over to the police. The device was taken to Türkiye accompanied by police teams on September 30, and the data inside was transferred to a USB memory stick. It was reported that the device and records were brought to the TRNC on October 1, and the detailed examination of the VDR records is continuing. A study was initiated to take voice samples from the suspects and compare them with the recordings.
The police told the court that, according to the information received from experts, the VDR device could contain the ship's cruising speed and direction, conversations in the wheelhouse, radio conversations, malfunction records and approximately two months' worth of audio data.
In the technical evaluation submitted to the court, it was stated that the previous repairs made on the ship were superficial and insufficient. In the technical review, it was evaluated that the transaction was "unacceptable". According to engineers' assessment, a crack in the fiber structure of the ship could propagate inside and seriously affect the safety of the ship. The police also announced that a statement from the captain stating that he saw the repairs made on the ship by the crew was included in the investigation file. It was also reported to the court that the captain did not report this situation to the company officials.
One of the most striking topics of the investigation was the watertight doors on the ship. The statements of some suspects were given in court. According to these statements, some watertight doors that should have been kept closed during the cruise were left open. Experts evaluated that the ship's water intake rate may decrease if the doors are closed. It was stated that in this case, the ship's tilt to the left could be delayed and more time could be gained for the evacuation of the passengers. The police informed the court that they found that the captain and the relevant engine personnel were responsible for keeping the watertight doors closed.
In the examination of the ship's plans, it was determined that there were 7 compartments. It was noted that there are watertight passages in some sections and bilge pumps are used to evacuate water on the ship, but there is no system that allows the pumps to operate automatically.
A defense lawyer claimed that a person named Süleyman entered the ship during the incident and took out two people. The lawyer argued that the time and how the rescue activities were carried out should also be investigated. The prosecutor's office objected, stating that some questions went beyond the scope of the ongoing investigation. The court stated that the interrogation should be carried out within the scope of the current investigation. The police also announced that the technical report and information expected from Türkiye were available. It was reported that studies on people, documents and records in Türkiye are continuing.
Before the hearing, relatives of those who lost their lives and those who are still missing gathered in front of the Kyrenia District Court. Activists also supported the families who carried photographs of their relatives. While the suspects were brought to the court, some family relatives showed their reactions by climbing the garden wall of the court. Extensive security measures were taken in the region. According to the latest information shared in court, there were 259 passengers and 8 crew members on the ship. 239 people survived the accident, and the bodies of 18 people were recovered. Search efforts in and around the shipwreck continue to find the 10 missing people.
