**Kyrenia Ferry Incident: Court Hears Details of Previous Crash and Ongoing Investigations**
The Turkish Cypriot Kyrenia district court convened on Monday to address the tragic sinking of a ferry off the coast of Kyrenia on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals. Fourteen people were arrested in connection with the incident and appeared before the court as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy continue.
During the proceedings, a police representative provided critical details about the ferry, revealing that it had previously crashed 12 years ago. Following that incident, the vessel underwent repairs in Turkey before being acquired by its current operator, Filo Denizcilik, in 2024. The police confirmed that the ferry had been declared seaworthy after an inspection by the Istanbul-based ship classification firm, Turk Loydu, conducted in June.
The police representative also stated that the number of passengers on board did not exceed the ferry's capacity, and the vessel was technically capable of navigating through waves of up to three meters high. Additionally, the Turkish Cypriot met office had reported that weather conditions were suitable for ferry crossings on the day of the incident.
Despite these assurances, the court heard that there were issues regarding the crew's knowledge of safety equipment. While there were enough lifejackets on board, the crew was reportedly insufficiently informed about their locations, which hindered evacuation efforts as the ferry began to capsize. The defense lawyer noted that the ferry was equipped with four life rafts, each capable of accommodating 100 people, which, if properly deployed, could have safely accommodated the 259 passengers and eight crew members on board.
Police inspector Mehmet Mannas informed the court that the ship's captain and crew had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by recklessness. He confirmed that 239 individuals had been rescued and brought to shore since the ferry sank shortly after departing from the new port of Kyrenia at approximately 12:10 PM, en route to the Turkish port of Tasucu.
In light of the incident, Turkish Cypriot 'Prime Minister' Unal Ustel pledged a thorough investigation into all aspects of the tragedy. He emphasized the state's commitment to uncovering any negligence that may have contributed to the disaster. "Our grief is immense today, but our state, with all its institutions, is fulfilling its duty," Ustel stated, highlighting the ongoing search and rescue operations aimed at locating any remaining missing persons.
As search-and-rescue efforts continued on Monday, boats and helicopters were deployed to the area. The presence of helicopters in the vicinity of Kyrenia led to the rerouting of passenger flights from the north's Tymbou (Ercan) airport, altering their usual paths over the region. Residents in the southern part of Nicosia reported seeing and hearing low-flying aircraft both on Sunday and Monday as a result of these changes.
The court proceedings are expected to continue as investigators seek to piece together the events leading up to the ferry's sinking and determine accountability for the loss of life. Nine of the fourteen defendants were remanded in custody for three days, while the remaining three were released pending further inquiries.