TRNC Transport Minister: Filo Jet captain was licensed, vessel inspected 2.5 months before accident

TRNC Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı said that the captain of the Filo Jet passenger vessel that sank off Kyrenia had a valid license and around 25 years of experience, while the vessel itself had undergone an inspection by the classification society Türk Loydu approximately 2.5 months before the disaster.

The minister was responding to accusations that emerged after the vessel sank: that the captain did not have a license, that the Filo Jet had previously been involved in an accident and that the voyage had been carried out without proper oversight. Arıklı made the comments live on the KIBRIS TV programme “Kıbrıs'ta Gündem”.

According to the minister, the captain had operated vessels in the area for around 25 years and possessed all the necessary documents, so he described claims that the captain lacked a license as baseless.

According to Arıklı, the Filo Jet underwent an inspection by Türk Loydu approximately 2.5 months before the accident, received a certificate and classification certificate, and submitted them to the relevant authorities. Türk Loydu is a Turkish classification society that checks the technical condition of vessels and authorises them to operate.

The minister declined to comment on the theory that there had been an explosion on board: according to him, the cause of the disaster will be established by a technical examination, while claims that the vessel went out to sea without being inspected are premature before the investigation is complete.

Arıklı said he would make a detailed statement on the disaster at a press conference at 10:30. On the same day, MP Atan called on the minister to resign, saying that those holding positions of responsibility must be prepared to be held accountable for them.