Captain Bought Licence From Honduras for $3,500

The captain, his deputy, six crew members and a shareholder of Filo Denizcilik were brought before the Kyrenia District Court again as the investigation continued.

Police told the court that the captain is a TRNC citizen and resident, but had no social insurance registration. He had reportedly taken a break of around 10 years from the profession, causing his Turkish licence to lose its validity.

According to police, the captain subsequently obtained a Honduran licence through contacts in Istanbul, paying $3,500 because obtaining a new Turkish licence was difficult. The Honduran licence reportedly carries the same registration number as his expired Turkish licence. He later obtained equivalency from Greece, while authorities are investigating the validity of both documents.

Police also said the captain knew the vessel was taking on water but failed to take the situation seriously. Investigators are examining whether reducing speed could have allowed the vessel to surface and turn back.

Authorities are also investigating whether crew members had received adequate evacuation training. The court heard that the distress call was made by the deputy captain rather than the captain.

Police said efforts to locate the vessel’s black box were continuing and that an arrest warrant had been issued for one of the company’s partners in Turkey.

The court was also told that Filo Denizcilik purchased the vessel in 2024 and that claims it had been involved in an accident in 2003 had yet to be confirmed.