The Filo Jet suffered a crack before the crash. The repairs were made by crew members.

The Filo Jet ferry, which sank off the coast of Kyrenia, had already been experiencing water ingress and a crack in the forward section of the hull on June 17th. According to evidence presented to the court, the damage was repaired by the captain and crew members. Investigators are examining whether the work was merely superficial.

The repairs were completed just 15 days after the classification company Türk Loydu issued a certificate certifying the vessel's seaworthiness. Nine people suspected of causing death by negligence will remain in custody for another seven days.

The photo is supposed to show the crack being repaired.

New information was presented during Friday's hearing of the Kyrenia District Court. Company director Filo Denizcilik, captain Mustafa Öz, and seven crew members were again brought before the court.

According to a "police" representative, a photograph taken on June 17 was found on the first officer's phone. It allegedly shows damage to the front of the Filo Jet and repair work being carried out by the captain and crew members.

Earlier that day, the vessel reportedly experienced water ingress. Investigators are investigating reports that the repairs were performed superficially, without a full inspection of the hull.

The second captain reportedly stated that the relevant authorities in Turkey were notified of the detected damage. Investigations are currently underway to determine what actions were taken following this information and whether the ferry should be allowed to continue carrying passengers.

The ferry received its certificate 15 days earlier

The chronology of events leading up to the crash is particularly significant. The Filo Jet completed maintenance on April 30. It was then inspected and certified on June 2 by the Istanbul-based classification company Türk Loydu.

Fifteen days later, the unit reportedly developed a crack and a problem with water inflow.

The document issued by Türk Loydu was supposed to be valid until 2029. At the same time, the Filo Jet certificate is currently listed as invalid in the company's online database.

It has not been publicly determined whether the document was invalidated before the ferry sank or only after the disaster on August 30. Both the media and the investigators are demanding detailed explanations from Türk Loydu regarding the vessel's inspection.

Investigators are checking the shipyard in Adana.

The investigation has expanded to the Adana shipyard, where previous maintenance work was carried out. Documents relating to repairs, materials used, and the vessel's technical condition are being examined.

Investigators also want to determine who worked on the ferry, the actual scope of work performed and whether all detected damage was properly recorded.

One of the most important questions remains how the vessel received a seaworthiness certificate when a crack and water inflow were discovered shortly afterwards.

This doesn't mean the June damage directly led to the disaster. The connection between the repairs, the subsequent condition of the hull, and the ferry's sinking is still under investigation.

The logbook is missing

The issue of crew training was also raised during the hearing. The "court" asked whether Filo Jet employees had completed all required training and exercises for responding to emergency situations.

The "Police" reported that the ship's logbook sank with the ferry and was not recovered. Therefore, Filo Denizcilik was asked to provide company documents regarding the training and qualifications of the crew members.

Representatives of the company have not yet provided the required data, explaining the delay with a technical problem.

There are also doubts about the captain's license.

This isn't the only issue investigators are examining. Earlier, information regarding Captain Mustafa Öz's Honduran license was presented to the court.

According to the "police," the captain previously held Turkish licenses that expired after a ten-year break from his profession. When he wanted to return to work, he contacted intermediaries and obtained a document issued in Honduras, paying $3,500.

The authenticity and manner of issuing the license are still being investigated. Until the investigation is complete, this information remains the investigators' findings, not legally confirmed allegations.

Fourteen victims and fourteen missing persons

The Filo Jet sank on August 30, shortly after leaving the new port of Kyrenia. The ferry was en route to Taşuc, Turkey. It was carrying 259 passengers and eight crew members.

According to the current tally, 14 people have been confirmed dead. Another 14 are still missing.

The nine suspects will remain in custody for the next seven days. They are scheduled to appear in court again on September 25. All are presumed innocent, and the case is still in the investigative phase.

Families demand answers

Relatives of the victims and missing persons gathered in front of the Kyrenia "courthouse." They demanded a full explanation of the causes of the disaster and the responsibility of those who allowed the ferry to sail.

After the meeting ended, some protesters followed the vehicles carrying the suspects. The families announced they would continue to demand justice and the disclosure of all the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, Yenidüzen, Turkish Cypriot press.