History of sunken Filo Jet includes 2003 water-ingress incident

Kyrenia, Cyprus. New details have emerged about the history of the Filo Jet catamaran, which sank off Kyrenia, as investigations into the cause of the disaster continue and searches remain under way for people still missing.

The vessel, formerly known as IRIS JET, has a 26-year history marked by changes in ownership, flag and name, as well as a water-ingress incident following a collision with a pier in 2003.

Construction and early operation

Built in 2000 at the Iris Catamarans shipyard in La Rochelle, France, the high-speed passenger catamaran was officially delivered on June 1, 2001. It is approximately 42.8 metres long, has a gross tonnage of 339 tonnes and originally carried around 346 passengers.

The vessel was initially named IRIS JET and owned by French manufacturer Iris Catamarans. Later in 2001, it was transferred to the Spanish company Cape Balear S.L., registered in Palamós, and operated in the Balearic Islands.

Service between Tasucu and Kyrenia

In 2003, the IRIS JET was chartered by Turkish company Meltem Denizcilik for passenger services between Tasucu and Kyrenia. It operated a limited number of sailings on the route.

A March 10, 2009 ruling by France’s Court of Cassation also referred to the vessel’s operation on a passenger route between Turkey and occupied Cyprus.

2003 collision and water ingress

According to the French court ruling, the IRIS JET struck a pier at Tasucu while manoeuvring on October 26, 2003. The vessel continued operating after the collision but suffered serious water ingress a few days later.

The ruling stated that repairs had been recommended at a suitable port but were not carried out before the vessel’s condition deteriorated. The incident led to years of insurance and legal disputes.

The earlier water-ingress incident has resurfaced in public discussion in the occupied north following the Filo Jet sinking. No technical or other evidence has linked the 2003 incident to the recent disaster.

Seizure, lay-up and later transfers

The vessel was later seized at Tasucu port over debts to employees and other creditors and remained out of active service for a prolonged period. It was offered for auction several times, including in 2007 for $2.425 million and again in 2014.

Available records do not consistently establish the precise duration of its inactivity, indicating a multi-year lay-up period rather than an uninterrupted period out of service.

In 2017, the vessel was acquired by Greek company Irisjet Maritime and moved to Perama for repairs, retaining the IRIS JET name and the Greek flag. Registry data list Irisjet Maritime as owner from May 29, 2017 until March 2, 2024.

A temporary transfer to Panama’s registry under Kasteknik Denizcilik was recorded in 2020, before the vessel returned later that year to Irisjet Maritime and the Greek flag.

Return as Filo Jet

In 2024, the catamaran was acquired by Turkish company Filo Denizcilik Ltd., renamed FILO JET and returned to the Tasucu-Kyrenia route.

Filo Denizcilik is listed as both the vessel’s registered owner and manager, while Irisjet Maritime was its immediately preceding owner. The same catamaran had operated on the route in 2003 before returning to it more than two decades later.