Crew members aboard the ill-fated Filo Jet ferry discussed fears that the vessel could sink and complained that its owners were failing to invest in maintenance, according to new evidence presented at Girne District Court on Friday, 23 October. The revelations are the latest to emerge from the ferry's recovered black box, as investigators examine whether serious mechanical problems contributed to the disaster that claimed 27 lives.
The court heard that the ferry, which sank off the coast of Girne in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) on 30 August, had experienced multiple technical problems involving its steering, generators, exhaust system, radar and security cameras.
Recordings from earlier voyages also revealed that passengers had complained about water entering the vessel, with some reportedly approaching the captain and urging him to turn back. However, the captain continued sailing.
The disturbing evidence was presented by Police Inspector Mehmet Mannaş during the ninth hearing in the criminal investigation into the sinking of the Filo Jet, which was travelling from Girne to Taşucu in Türkiye.
Nine suspects, including the ferry's captain, engineering personnel, crew members and a director of its operating company, Filo Denizcilik, appeared before the court.
All nine were ordered to remain in police custody for another seven days while investigations into possible deaths caused by negligence continue.
“The only things sound on this ship are us”
In one particularly alarming conversation, two crew members reportedly criticised the company's failure to invest in the vessel and warned that it could sink.
According to testimony presented by Police Inspector Mehmet Mannaş, the conversation included the words: “The company is only looking after its own interests. This ship will sink. We're the only things on this ship that are sound; everything else is half-finished.”
One of those involved in the conversation was reportedly the ferry's second engineer.
The exchange, recovered from the vessel's voyage data recorder, provides a disturbing insight into the concerns being expressed by crew members about Filo Jet's condition before the fatal crossing.
The court also heard that the recordings contained references to problems with the ferry's steering system, radar, security cameras, generators and exhaust equipment, as well as faults affecting the starboard side of the vessel.
During an earlier hearing on 16 October, investigators revealed that the second captain had reportedly warned that the ferry needed a complete overhaul.
Other recordings suggested that steering problems had previously caused the vessel to come dangerously close to another ship.
The latest revelations suggest that concerns about Filo Jet's mechanical condition were being discussed repeatedly among crew members before the fatal voyage.
Passengers complained about water entering ferry on earlier voyages
Perhaps most concerning was evidence that passengers had previously raised the alarm about water entering the vessel.
Police Inspector Mannaş told the court that recordings from earlier journeys captured passengers approaching the bridge to complain that the ferry was taking on water.
Some reportedly asked the captain to turn back, but the vessel continued its journey.
Other recordings indicated that passengers had become frightened during previous crossings, with some approaching the bridge to express their concerns.
The latest evidence adds to questions about whether warning signs were ignored and whether the vessel should have remained in passenger service.
Investigators are also examining an earlier incident near Yumurtalık, on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast, when the ferry reportedly struck an object.
Questions over what company management knew
The court has previously heard evidence suggesting that the ferry's mechanical problems were known to some company officials.
At the hearing on 16 October, police revealed that the second captain, Merve Nur Seraslan, had sent an email to four company officials on 28 August, just two days before the disaster.
Investigators established that the email had been opened, but its contents could not be recovered. A lawyer representing the second captain said the message concerned unsuitable weather conditions, although police have not independently verified its contents.
The investigation is also examining whether concerns about the ferry's steering system were properly communicated to the company's Designated Person Ashore (DPA), the individual responsible for maintaining safety-related communications between the vessel and management.
The ferry's captain reportedly told investigators that the DPA had been informed about steering problems, while the company director said he had no knowledge of the defect.
These conflicting accounts are among the matters police are seeking to clarify.
Specialist experts to examine evidence
Police told Friday's hearing that 34 days of VDR recordings remain to be examined.
However, there are no recordings from the ferry's final voyage because the device stopped recording on 28 August, two days before the sinking.
Investigators are continuing to establish why power to the recorder was interrupted.
A team of specialists from Türkiye is expected to assist the investigation, alongside an academic expert from a university in North Cyprus.
Marine engineers are examining recovered pieces of the ferry, while a specialist in maritime law has also been appointed.
A separate investigation involving the TRNC Ports Department is continuing, potentially shedding further light on the responsibilities of the authorities charged with overseeing maritime safety.
Police confirmed that six additional individuals are being sought in connection with the wider investigation.
Defence lawyers have disputed aspects of the evidence concerning the vessel's steering problems, arguing that the recordings do not establish a failure of its main steering equipment. They have also raised concerns about delays in obtaining technical and certification documents from Türkiye.
No definitive cause of the sinking has yet been established.
Families continue to demand justice
Relatives of those killed in the disaster gathered outside Girne District Court on Friday, carrying photographs of their loved ones and banners demanding accountability.
Some displayed banners bearing the words “Kaza Değil Cinayet” (‘Not an Accident, but Murder’), reflecting their belief that the tragedy could have been prevented.
The disaster claimed 27 confirmed lives, with all recovered victims now formally identified.
Three-year-old Anni Asel Hilaloğlu remains the only missing passenger. Her mother, Nurcan, was among those killed, while her father, Salim, has repeatedly appealed for the search for his daughter to continue.
The specialist underwater recovery operation ended on 10 October, although the TRNC government has said the Coast Guard and Security Forces will continue searching.
As investigators examine the latest recordings and technical evidence, the central question remains whether the ferry's known mechanical problems, its maintenance history and decisions taken before and during its final voyage contributed to the tragedy.
For the bereaved families, the latest revelations about the vessel's condition will only intensify demands for answers about why Filo Jet was allowed to continue carrying passengers.
