The specially equipped research and survey vessel Optimus Prime, sent from Türkiye to the waters off Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, has begun searching for 14 people missing from a sunken passenger ship.
The vessel, used for deep-sea research, can maintain its position precisely in open water and operate with remotely operated underwater vehicles. After reaching the site of the sinking, the vessel began examining the wreck.
Search operations continue around the clock
Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ünal Üstel and Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Ataoğlu boarded the Optimus Prime to inspect the search operation. Üstel said the work off Kyrenia was continuing uninterrupted around the clock.
Üstel said every available resource was being used to reach the missing people and that the state had not abandoned the search effort. He said operations involving maritime, air and land units would continue until results were achieved.
Inaccessible sections of the wreck to be examined
Üstel said the TCG Alemdar and TCG Işın vessels were also playing important roles in the search operations. Thanks to its high capacity and technical equipment, the Optimus Prime is expected to reach parts of the wreck that had previously been inaccessible and examine its interior sections in detail.
The Filo Jet, which operated between Kyrenia Port and Taşucu Port in Mersin, began taking on water from its bow shortly after departing Kyrenia on Sunday, August 30. The vessel sank while attempting to return to Kyrenia Port.
There were 267 passengers and crew members on board. Following the accident, 239 people were rescued, while 14 people lost their lives in the wreck, located at a depth of 554 meters off Kyrenia; the search for the 14 missing people continues.