Turkish Cypriot officials say they were never warned about ferry hull crack before sinking
A Kyrenia court hearing revealed Turkish Cypriot authorities were not informed of a hull crack that was repaired weeks before the ferry sank, killing 15 and leaving 13 missing.
During a hearing in the Kyrenia district court, prosecutors highlighted that Turkish Cypriot authorities received no notice of a crack that developed on the ferry’s left hull nearly two months before it capsized on August 30. Photographs from the first mate’s phone show the damage was repaired on June 17 by captain Mustafa Oz and the crew at a Cypriot port, despite legal obligations to report such work. The repairs followed a Turk Loydu certification of seaworthiness issued only 15 days earlier, though the firm’s online database now lists the certificate as invalid.
Nine individuals - Oz, seven crew members and a Filo Denizcilik director - are charged with causing death by negligence; all were ordered to stay in custody pending a October 2 hearing. The sinking left 15 confirmed dead and 13 still missing, prompting grieving families to demand answers about life-jacket availability, evacuation procedures, and the legitimacy of the captain’s Honduran licence bought for $3,500.
