Girne ferry disaster probe finds captain held Honduras license, crew untrained

September 4, 2026 at 09:03 AM2 min

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An investigation into the August 30 capsizing of the Filo Jet ferry off Girne, which killed 10 people and left 18 missing, has uncovered a chain of negligence. The captain, Mustafa Öz, held a Honduran license obtained for $3,500 and the crew lacked any certification or training. Nine people, including the captain and company director, had their detention extended by eight days.

Key Facts

The Filo Jet capsized off Girne on August 30, killing 10 people and leaving 18 missing.
Captain Mustafa Öz obtained a Honduran captain's license for $3,500 through contacts in Istanbul after a 10-year break from the profession.
The crew of the Filo Jet had no certificates or training, according to the investigation.
Nine people, including the captain, company director, and machinists, had their detention extended by eight days.
The ferry operator Filo Denizcilik is registered in Mersin, while the Filo Jet is listed under the KKTC flag in the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping records.

Investigation Findings

The investigation revealed that the captain, Mustafa Öz, had taken a 10-year break from the profession and then obtained a Honduran license for $3,500 through contacts in Istanbul. The Honduran license carried the same registry number as his expired Turkish license, and he later obtained equivalence from Greece. The validity of the Honduran license and the Greek equivalence is now under investigation. The captain left the ship after the accident without taking the ship's logbook, which records important developments. The crew had no certificates or training, according to the investigation.

Departure Decision

On the day of the accident, the passenger ship Grand Master, owned by Akgünler Denizcilik, cancelled its scheduled departure from Girne due to the storm. The captain of the Filo Jet allegedly used his own initiative to set sail despite the adverse weather conditions. A court expert stated that the accident could have been prevented if the captain had turned back instead of continuing. The same company had earlier managed to bring the Flying Cat sea bus from Taşucu to Girne in the morning despite the bad weather.

Company and Legal Status

The operator Filo Denizcilik is registered in Mersin, while the Filo Jet is listed under the KKTC flag and categorized as a foreign shipowner in the IMEAK Chamber of Shipping records. Nine people, including the captain, company director, and machinists, had their detention extended by eight days. Experts noted that Honduran captain's licenses are not accepted by white-flag countries due to their inadequacy under international standards.