01.09.2026 11:50
The insurance survey report on the ferry disaster off Kyrenia, which claimed 8 lives and left 20 missing, revealed striking findings. It is claimed that the ship sustained heavy damage in a storm days before the accident and was nevertheless put back into service, while TCG Işın, equipped with underwater vehicles capable of operating at depths of 3,000 meters, also joined the search efforts for the missing.
The insurance expert report prepared regarding the ferry disaster off the coast of Girne in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, where 8 people lost their lives and 20 went missing, has revealed a horrifying chain of negligence. While experts determined that the ship was put to sea despite the heavy damage it had sustained in a previous storm, the Turkish Naval Forces' search and rescue vessel TCG Işın, equipped with superior technological capabilities, also joined the efforts to search for the missing passengers.
JOURNEY TO CERTAIN DEATH WITH A CRACKED SHIP
While the judicial and administrative processes initiated after the accident continue, the first findings reached by insurance experts have left their mark on the investigation, in which 9 people, including the ship's captain, were arrested. According to information reported by Hürriyet newspaper columnist Noyan Doğan, the high-speed vessel, made of composite material and not supposed to encounter waves exceeding three meters, was caught in the middle of a severe storm days before the accident. It was confirmed with video footage in the hands of experts that severe cracks formed on the floor of the ferry, which struggled with 30-knot winds and waves reaching 4.5 meters. It was claimed that the captain and crew knowingly sent the ship on a new voyage despite these critical structural damages.
DECISION TO TURN BACK INSTEAD OF EVACUATION LED TO DISASTER
Another significant finding that invited the disaster was the erroneous decisions made the moment the ship began taking on water. According to expert assessments, if the captain had initiated the emergency evacuation procedure in the first moments the ferry started taking on water, the scale of the process could have changed and loss of life could have been prevented. However, the decision to turn the ship back instead paved the way for the already cracked hull to quickly capsize as it could no longer withstand the pressure.
NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY TCG IŞIN IN SEARCH OPERATIONS
While search and rescue activities continued on the sea surface, the Turkish Naval Forces stepped in to reach the 20 people lost in the depths of the waters. The 68-meter-long TCG Işın Rescue and Salvage Ship, which was built entirely with domestic and national means and entered service in 2017, reached its duty area in the Mediterranean. The ship, which can conduct safe operations by remaining stationary even in harsh sea conditions thanks to its dynamic positioning system, can carry out underwater search and rescue activities up to a depth of one thousand meters. The platform, which can maintain its position by anchoring at four points up to a depth of six hundred meters, stands as the greatest asset in the search efforts.
EYE OF THE DEEP SEAS: ADVANCED SONAR AND DIVING SYSTEMS
The ship, equipped with advanced technology, can easily detect objects and targets at depths between one thousand and three thousand meters using Side Scan Sonar and Multi-Beam Echo Sounder systems that can scan the seabed in detail. First-class specially trained divers serving on the ship can descend to 365 meters with the Atmospheric Diving System, while remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) can operate at a depth of 3 thousand meters. Additionally, with the Surface-Supplied Diving System, highly sensitive rescue operations in deep waters can be carried out safely.
FULLY-EQUIPPED MEDICAL INTERVENTION AND LIFE SUPPORT
In addition to its strength in underwater operations, TCG Işın also stands out as a comprehensive medical intervention center. The two-section, 9-person capacity Fixed Pressure Chamber System on board allows personnel exposed to diving diseases to be treated with oxygen and gas mixtures under high pressure. The ship, which has radiological examination, damage control surgery, and intensive care units, also houses a massive life support system capable of providing uninterrupted air to distressed submarines at a depth of 600 meters for 14 days.