Filojet captain's high-speed craft certification under scrutiny after Girne sinking

September 1, 2026 at 12:18 PM1 min

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Investigators are examining whether the captain of the Filojet passenger catamaran that sank off Girne held the required high-speed craft type rating. The vessel's operating permit lists it as an HSC Passenger Catamaran, triggering scrutiny under IMO's 2000 HSC Code. Questions remain over whether the certificate was checked before departure from Girne port.

Key Facts

The Filojet's operating permit issued by the Ports Department defines the vessel as an HSC Passenger Catamaran.
Public documents show the captain holds a general Master/Captain qualification, but it is unclear whether he holds a Type Rating Certificate for high-speed craft.
IMO's 2000 HSC Code requires captains of high-speed vessels to complete type-specific training and assessment covering manoeuvring, control systems, operational limits, stability, and emergency procedures.
Investigators are also examining whether the certificate was actually checked at departure from Girne port.

Certification Gap

The Filojet's operating permit issued by the Ports Department explicitly defines the vessel as an HSC Passenger Catamaran. Publicly available documents show the captain holds a general Master/Kaptan qualification, but there is no confirmation of a Type Rating Certificate for this specific vessel type. The absence of this certificate would violate IMO's 2000 HSC Code, which mandates type-specific training for high-speed craft captains.

Regulatory Requirements

IMO's 2000 HSC Code requires captains of high-speed vessels to undergo special training and assessment covering manoeuvring, control systems, operational limits, stability, and emergency procedures. The investigation is seeking to determine whether the Filojet captain held such a certificate, who issued it, its validity period, and whether it covered the Girne-Tasucu route and the specific vessel. A further critical question is whether the certificate was actually checked at departure from Girne port.