31.10.2026 16:20
The body of Rahmi Temel (61), the second captain of the Tuğberk İmamoğlu ship, which sank after colliding with the Alsu ship off Silivri on September 2, was recovered from the wreck at a depth of 720 meters. Temel, a retired naval non-commissioned officer, was buried with a military ceremony in İzmir. His daughter Merve Temel said that her father had gone on his first voyage in the job he started a week earlier; the families demanded that the 8 missing sailors also be found.
Rahmi Temel (61), the second captain of the ship named 'Tuğberk İmamoğlu,' which sank after colliding with the ship named 'Alsu' off Silivri, and who lost his life, was laid to rest with a military ceremony held in Izmir. Temel's daughter Merve Temel (34) stated that her father continued working after retiring and said, 'He had started at this company he was working for a week ago. It was his first voyage. We loved our father very much. Losing him in such a simple accident hurts us deeply.'
The ship named 'Tuğberk İmamoğlu,' which collided with the ship named 'Alsu' off Silivri on September 2, sank. While search efforts continued for the 9 crew members on the sunken ship, a man's body was found on October 29. Examinations at the Forensic Medicine Institute determined that the body belonged to the ship's second captain, retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Rahmi Temel.
The body of Temel, which was received by his family, was brought to Izmir. A military ceremony was held for Rahmi Temel today at noon at Hacı Mustafa Beşikçioğlu Mosque in Karşıyaka. Rahmi Temel's wife Semra (61), daughters Merve (34) and Aslı (31), son Remzi Temel, relatives, and citizens attended the funeral. After the funeral prayer, Temel's coffin, wrapped in the Turkish flag, was carried to the hearse by the ceremonial squad. Rahmi Temel was buried in Örnekköy Cemetery.
IT WAS HIS FIRST VOYAGE AT HIS NEW JOB
Merve Temel stated that her father could not break away from the sea after retiring as a petty officer and said, 'After he had us educated, he took a break from work. He used to go occasionally. For the last 1.5 years he was saying he would no longer go. We could not tear him away from the sea. Even if he got on a ferry, he would immediately watch the engines and the captains. He loved swimming very much. We would swim with him for hours. He was very attached to us, and we to him. We did everything together. He instilled in us a love of the sea. But now the seas have taken him from us. He had started at this company he was working for a week ago. It was his first voyage. We loved our father very much. Losing him in such a simple accident hurts us deeply.'
HIS BODY WAS RECOVERED FROM 720 METERS
Merve Temel continued her words as follows:
'On September 5, the location of the shipwreck was found at 720 meters. The authorities said that it was not possible to retrieve the bodies from the wreck they had reached. We knew that such technology existed, and that is why we insisted. We have been fighting for 2 months to reach my father. They recovered his body from 720 meters. We thank them for giving my father back to us. Hopefully, we will find our other seafarers as well. We have felt a little relief, but we will continue to follow this process until we find our other seafarers. We will continue to be persistent. Please bring them all out. Because this accident is very painful. It is now our duty to prevent these old ships from weighing anchor with this load. This accident happened because of an inexperienced captain who wanted to cross his route. Because it had no water intake capacity, it sank within 3 minutes. Our pain will never subside. We will do everything so that those who caused this to us are punished. We will hold accountable the captain who collided and those who could not regulate maritime traffic.'
FAMILIES ARE WAITING FOR THE 8 MISSING SEAFARERS
Recep Yılmaz, speaking on behalf of the Platform of Families Who Lost Their Lives at Sea, said, 'I am one of the 10 families who lost a loved one off Silivri. After 59 days, we were able to reach the body of our second captain, Rahmi Temel. We ask the authorities to continue efforts so that the other 8 families also have a grave for their relatives. We demand that the bodies be reunited with their families. In a sense, we are also joyful here. Because we have reached one of our bodies; we have a grave. His family will be able to go and touch that grave. I wish the family my condolences and patience.'