An investigation is underway into the sinking of the ALSU vessel, with nine crew members being treated as suspects in the incident.
The Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation into the suspects regarding the accident in which a ship sank and 10 sailors went missing.
It was stated that suspicious procedures were applied to 9 out of the 10 people on board the ALSU vessel, excluding the cook, and their statements were taken.
A panel of experts has been appointed to determine the fault conditions, and it is reported that 2 or 3 crew members were on the deck of the sinking ship before the accident, according to the statements taken.
The empty ALSU tanker, which was sailing from Kocaeli to Aliağa, collided around 03:00 yesterday with the Tuğberk İmamoğlu cargo ship, which was carrying 4,199 tons of rolled steel from İskenderun to Karadeniz Ereğli, 18 miles (35 kilometers) south of Silivri. The Tuğberk İmamoğlu ship, which had 10 crew members on board, sank. Suspicious procedures were applied to the 9 individuals on the ALSU ship.
INVESTIGATION ON 9 INDIVIDUALS EXCEPT 1 PERSON
Suspicious procedures were applied to 9 out of the 10 people on board the ship. No action was taken against the cook, while the suspects were placed under supervision on the ship after their statements were taken. It was reported that those to be referred to the courthouse would be determined after the preliminary report prepared by the expert panel.
THEY ARE BEING HELD ON THE SHIP UNDER JANDARMA SUPERVISION
After the completion of the statement procedures, the suspects were not allowed to leave the ship due to the ongoing investigation and administrative inquiry. Considering the safety of the ship, the 9 suspects were kept on board under the escort of gendarmerie personnel.
WAITING FOR THE EXPERT REPORT
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has appointed a panel of experts to determine the fault conditions of the individuals involved in the incident. The panel is expected to prepare its preliminary report by noon at the latest. After the findings in the report, it will be decided which suspects will be referred to the courthouse.
It was stated that instructions would be given for the suspects determined to be referred to the courthouse to be presented at the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office by the gendarmerie teams.
BLOOD SAMPLES WERE TAKEN
It was learned that the alcohol tests conducted on the suspects after the accident returned negative results, and blood samples were also taken for detailed examination. After the necessary examinations are completed, it was reported that the blood samples would be sent for testing today, and any additional findings would be shared with the public.
2 OR 3 PEOPLE ON BOARD WERE SEEN ON THE DECK
It was reported that detailed examinations would be conducted on the submerged parts of the ship through divers. According to the statements taken, it was learned that 2 or 3 individuals on the sinking ship were seen on the deck just before the sinking.
While there has been no evidence or indication so far that these individuals survived, the possibility that they may have lost their lives is being considered, and efforts to recover their remains are ongoing.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
