Family lawyers contest expert report blaming Chief Engineer Akbaş for his fatal accident, citing systemic safety failures on the ship.
In the case of Chief Engineer Mehmet Akbaş, who lost his life due to an accident on board, a strong objection has been raised by the family’s lawyers to the expert report that deemed the deceased 'primarily at fault.'
A new development has occurred in the legal process regarding the death of Chief Engineer Mehmet Akbaş, a graduate of the Maritime Faculty of 1986, who died after falling from a height of approximately 4 meters while serving on the M/V XIN HAI TONG 503, which was anchored in the port area of Ceyhan, Adana. In the initial expert report prepared, Akbaş was declared primarily at fault on the grounds that he acted 'carelessly and recklessly,' which was deemed unacceptable by the family’s legal representatives.
Lawyers: 'Responsibility Lies with the Operator, Error is Systemic'
In the objection petition submitted to the court by the family’s lawyers, it was argued that the report contained incomplete and biased examination. The main points highlighted in the objection were as follows:
Lack of Safety Equipment: It was emphasized that there were no mandatory occupational safety equipment such as railings, safety nets, or warning signs in the area where the accident occurred, and this situation was directly the fault of the employer.
Occupational Health and Safety Inspection Deficiency: By pointing out the Chief Engineer's experience, it was stated that the accident stemmed not from a personal error but from the malfunctioning of the overall safety management system (SMS) on the ship.
Request for Additional Report: The lawyers requested the cancellation of the existing report and demanded that a new report be prepared following an on-site inspection by an independent committee consisting of maritime safety and occupational health and safety experts.
The Maritime Community is Monitoring the Process
In the case closely followed by the ITU Maritime Faculty (YDO) Alumni Association and the Turkish maritime public, the decision to be made will set a precedent. According to information published in maritime journals and sectoral publications, it will become clear in the next hearing whether the court will appoint a new expert committee.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
