Ferry captain and eight others face negligence charges after Kyrenia sinking

Kyrenia, Cyprus. The captain of the passenger ferry Filo Jet and eight other suspects appeared in court on Friday over the vessel’s sinking off the coast of Kyrenia on August 30. Fourteen people have been confirmed dead and 14 remain unaccounted for 12 days after the incident.

Negligence charges

The other suspects are seven crew members and a director of the ferry’s operator, Filo Denizcilik. All nine are accused of causing death by negligence.

Families of the missing gathered outside the Kyrenia courthouse and confronted the suspects as they entered and left the building.

New evidence and further warrants

A police representative told the court that new evidence had been obtained since the suspects’ previous court appearance. Computers belonging to the company director and the first mate’s mobile phone were seized as evidence.

The representative said arrest warrants had also been issued for five additional people.

Newspaper Yeniduzen reported that an investigation had been opened into a crash involving the ferry in 2003.

Video and vessel certification

According to news website Gundem Kibris, police obtained footage apparently recorded by one of the 14 missing passengers shortly before the vessel capsized. The video was said to show signs of fractures on the boat.

Police are awaiting a response from Turk Loydu, the Istanbul-based ship classification firm which examined and certified the ferry in June, concerning the procedures followed during the inspection.

The certificate issued by Turk Loydu states that it is valid until 2029, while the firm’s online database lists it as invalid. It remains unclear whether the certificate was declared invalid before or after the August 30 sinking. Turk Loydu had not responded to a request for comment from the Cyprus Mail.

Crew certificates and sailing eligibility

Police are also awaiting information on the crew’s competency certificates to compare them with records from Turkey.

A defence lawyer asked whether the vessel was eligible to sail under Turkish Cypriot law. The police representative said it was. The defence noted that the Filo Jet had completed 385 voyages between Kyrenia and Tasucu, the Turkish port it was travelling to when it sank.