**Title: Investigation Underway Following Kyrenia Ferry Sinking Incident**
The sinking of a ferry off the coast of Kyrenia on Sunday has raised serious concerns regarding safety protocols and the actions of the crew during the emergency. Passengers who survived the incident reported that the crew locked the doors to the passenger cabin as the vessel began taking on water shortly after departing from Cyprus en route to Turkey.
Burak Arif Kaya, a 23-year-old dentistry student in Cyprus, recounted the alarming events to the Turkish news agency Tak. He stated that as passengers boarded the ferry at the new port of Kyrenia, they observed signs that the vessel was already taking on water. When they alerted the captain, Mustafa Oz, he reportedly dismissed their concerns, asserting his extensive experience in maritime operations. “How many years have I been a captain? I know this job better than you,” he allegedly told the passengers.
As the situation deteriorated, Kaya described a chaotic scene where the ferry began to fill with water. He claimed that the crew did not assist the passengers and instead locked the doors to the cabin. Kaya and his friends managed to rescue several individuals, including a pregnant woman and three children, by breaking a window to escape the sinking ferry. Another passenger, Burak Can Keskin, echoed Kaya’s sentiments, stating, “After the ship set sail, it stopped and sank. We broke the window and got out. Otherwise, we would not have been able to.”
Local tour boat operator Mustafa Koc, who attempted to rescue those on board the capsizing ferry, alleged that Captain Oz was among the first to abandon the vessel. Koc reported that he had taken Oz and the first mate onto his own boat during the rescue effort. This claim contradicts maritime tradition, which typically sees the captain remaining on board until all passengers are evacuated.
In a distressing phone call to his father, Keskin conveyed the urgency of the situation, saying, “Dad, we are drowning, our boat is sinking.” Fortunately, he and his friends managed to reach safety, prompting a relieved response from his family upon learning of his survival.
Following the incident, all eight crew members were arrested and are currently in custody. During a court appearance on Thursday, a police representative revealed that Captain Oz had acquired his Honduran captain's license for $3,500 after having been out of the industry for a decade. His original Turkish license had expired, raising questions about his qualifications to operate the ferry.
Additionally, it was reported that the Turkish port of Tasucu, the intended destination of the ferry, was closed due to adverse weather conditions on the day of the incident. Despite this, Captain Oz allegedly decided to set sail at midday, ignoring warnings from passengers who urged him to return to port. Turkish opposition New Party leader Ali Mahir Basarir stated that survivors he spoke to consistently expressed their pleas for the captain to turn back, which he did not heed.
The incident has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ferry's sinking, including the adequacy of safety measures, crew training, and the condition of the vessel itself. Basarir emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “There are allegations about inadequacies regarding the ferry, the technical team, the captain, the staff, all of them. We will follow this matter.”
As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of maritime travel in the region and addressing the concerns raised by survivors and their families. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adherence to safety protocols and the responsibilities of crew members in emergency situations.