Search and rescue efforts are continuing around the clock for 16 people still missing after the high-speed passenger ship “Filo Jet” sank off Girne (Kyrenia) on Aug. 30 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Nine vessels and 11 aircraft are taking part in the operation, led by the rescue and salvage vessel TCG Işın and the submarine rescue vessel TCG Alemdar.
The wreck was located at a depth of 554 meters off Girne, where specialized teams are using advanced robotic systems to search the sunken vessel and recover the missing passengers.
Rescue crews are working 24 hours a day, including through the night, as efforts continue at the challenging deep-sea site.
The TCG Işın initially scanned the area where the ship sank to identify possible entry points into the wreck.
Around 60 personnel, including 15 specialized first-class divers, are involved in the operations.
A remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) is being used to conduct robotic dives and retrieve objects from the seabed. The vehicle can operate at depths of up to 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), lift objects weighing as much as 135 kilograms (298 pounds), and use thermal cameras to support underwater imaging.
The TCG Işın is also equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System that allows the vessel to maintain a stable position in difficult sea conditions, helping ensure the safety of underwater operations.
Its side-scan sonar can detect objects at depths of up to 1,000 meters, while its multibeam echo sounder system can scan the seabed in detail at depths of up to 3,000 meters.
The TCG Alemdar was positioned in the area on Wednesday and began using remotely controlled robotic systems to recover the bodies of missing passengers from the wreck at a depth of 554 meters.
The 4,200-ton submarine rescue vessel is equipped with a helicopter platform for ambulance operations, along with Dynamic Positioning and sonar systems that support deep-sea rescue missions.
The teams are also working to recover the ship’s black box, which could provide important information about the circumstances surrounding the sinking.
The Filo Jet, a high-speed passenger ship operating between Girne Port and Taşucu Port in Mersin, began taking on water from its bow shortly after departing Girne around noon on Sunday.
TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel announced that the bodies of 12 people had been recovered, while search efforts continued for 16 missing passengers.
