Searches continue near Kyrenia after ferry disaster — Cyprus Mail

A search operation continues off the coast of Kyrenia in Cyprus in the area of the ferry disaster, which sank on August 30. According to Faiz Sucuoğlu, whom Cyprus Mail calls the Turkish Cypriots’ “transport minister,” the search is being conducted gradually.

Searches at a depth of 550 metres

Sucuoğlu said the work is being carried out at a depth of 550 metres. Lowering the robot to survey the seabed takes from four and a half to five hours, while bringing found objects to the surface takes from eight to 10 hours. According to him, the search is progressing slowly, but work is being conducted around the clock.

He added that the operation will continue in the area where the vessel sank and may be expanded in the coming days. The robot used for the search has a field of view of about 10 metres.

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Deaths and court case

The ferry capsized shortly after departing from the new port of Kyrenia for Turkey’s Taşucu at around noon on August 30. There were 259 passengers and eight crew members on board. The deaths of 18 people have been confirmed, while another 10 people are still considered missing.

Nine people were detained in the disaster case: Captain Mustafa Öz, seven crew members, and one of the executives of the operating company Filo Denizcilik. They remain in custody. During the latest court hearing, it was reported that the Turkish Cypriot authorities had not been informed about a crack in the ferry’s port side that appeared on June 17, although the captain and the company were obliged to report it.

Earlier, a police representative told the court that during questioning, Öz said he had bought a Honduran captain’s licence for $3,500. The publication contacted Honduras’ General Directorate of the Merchant Marine to verify the authenticity of the document.