**Kyrenia Ferry Captain Allegedly Purchased License for $3,500**
Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus – Mustafa Oz, the captain of a ferry that sank off the coast of Kyrenia, has come under scrutiny for allegedly purchasing his captain's license from Honduras for $3,500. This revelation was made during a court hearing on Thursday at the Turkish Cypriot Kyrenia district court, where Oz appeared for the second time.
A police representative disclosed in court that Oz had initially obtained a captain's license in Turkey. However, this license became invalid after he did not work as a boat captain for a decade. When Oz sought to return to his maritime career, he reportedly contacted individuals in Greece and, using his previous Turkish license number, acquired a Honduran captain's license by paying the aforementioned sum.
Following the procurement of the Honduran license, Oz received an accompanying document from the Turkish Cypriot authorities, which enabled him to operate the ferry route between Kyrenia and the Turkish port of Tasucu.
The case has raised significant concerns regarding the validity of maritime licenses and the safety protocols surrounding ferry operations in the region. The Cyprus Mail has reached out to the Republic of Honduras’ directorate-general of merchant maritime to verify the authenticity of Oz's license and is currently awaiting a response.
As investigations continue, the incident has sparked discussions about maritime safety regulations and the qualifications required for ferry operators in Northern Cyprus. Further updates are expected as the court proceedings progress.