Captain detained in connection with missing businessman released under judicial control

Search efforts continue for prominent businessman Halit Yukay, the owner of the yacht found shattered off the coast of Marmara Island.

In connection with the incident, dry cargo ship captain C.T. was detained in Yalova on suspicion of 'causing death by negligence.' After processing by the Coast Guard, C.T. was referred to the Yalova Courthouse. The suspect was released under judicial control by the court to which he was referred with a request for arrest.

Captain C.T. of the cement-carrying ship named Arel 7, which was determined to have passed through the accident area at the time of the incident, stated in his testimony: "Normally, there is an assistant next to the captain. They had gone down to eat at that time. We had passed Marmara Island. He had gone down to eat around 17:00. My shift had started at 16:30. M.S. was with me as a lookout. Then they went down to eat. They went down to eat at 17:00.

I had spoken with the company. Then, all of a sudden, I felt a jolt; I couldn't make sense of it. I looked in front of me; there were two pieces on my right and left. I saw them as pieces of wood. I passed through the middle, but after moving forward a bit, I turned the ship around because my conscience was not at ease. At that moment, I saw a lifebuoy. I didn't understand what the pieces of wood I saw on my right and left were. When I realized it had nothing to do with me, I continued on my way.

After some time passed, I called the company official. I explained the situation. Then I said it had nothing to do with us. I said I am continuing on my way.

Normally, when you encounter such a situation, you inform the Coast Guard. But I couldn't think in the psychology of that moment. There were 2-3 ships in front of me as well. Since it was adrift in the middle of the sea, I didn't think it had anything to do with us; I didn't see or suspect it was a boat. There was no collision. We would have definitely understood and heard the sound," he said.

News Source: İHA