Second rescue vessel arrives off Kyrenia to recover sunken ferry

Kyrenia, Cyprus. A second rescue vessel, the TCG Alemdar, arrived off the coast of Kyrenia on Wednesday morning as efforts continued to recover a passenger ferry that sank while travelling to Turkey on Sunday.

The vessel will support the TCG Isin and other maritime and aerial resources deployed in the operation after an object believed to be the ferry was located at a depth of 550 metres.

Recovery operation

Sources close to the matter said the TCG Alemdar would assist the TCG Isin, which arrived on Tuesday, and other teams operating off Cyprus’ northern coast.

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said on Tuesday evening that the search-and-rescue team aboard the TCG Isin had determined the location of an object considered to be the sunken vessel.

“The location of an object, which is currently considered to be the sunken ship, has been determined. This object was detected at a depth of 550 metres. I repeat, it is considered that it is the sunken ship,” he said outside Kyrenia’s new port, where a crisis desk has operated since Sunday afternoon.

The TCG Alemdar is expected to work to bring the wreckage to the surface.

Missing passengers and recovery efforts

Twenty people remained missing on Wednesday, according to official figures, three days after the ferry sank. Their families gathered outside the entrance to the new port for a fourth consecutive day.

Turkish Cypriot Kyrenia mayor Murat Senkul, as well as the north’s ‘finance minister’ Ozdemir Berova and ‘energy minister’ Olgun Amcaoglu, visited the families on Wednesday morning.

Search-and-rescue teams recovered suitcases floating in the sea off Kyrenia, while a life jacket washed ashore at Karavostasi, near Lefka.

Eight people have been confirmed dead. Four funerals took place on Tuesday, following one funeral on Monday.