Death of Pilot Captain Oğuz Kök, who fell into the sea, brought to the parliamentary agenda

CHP Deputy Chairman responsible for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Ulaş Karasu, has brought the death of Pilot Captain Oğuz Kök—who fell into the sea while boarding a commercial vessel off the coast of Üsküdar Harem and lost his life due to hypothermia—to the agenda of the TBMM, questioning whether there was any negligence involved.

Karasu directed questions to Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdülkadir Uraloğlu regarding the safety of pilot captains, an issue brought to the fore by Kök's death.

According to the report by Gazete Duvar, Karasu asked Minister of Transport Abdulkadir Uraloğlu: “Was there negligence in the passing of Captain Oğuz Kök? Has any technical issue or malfunction been identified regarding the boat that caused Kök to fall into the sea? Was this malfunction a factor in the occurrence of the accident? Is there any investigation opened within the administration regarding this matter, and if so, what has been the result?”

"NOT THE FIRST"

Karasu prepared a parliamentary question for the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure to answer and submitted it to the Speaker of the TBMM. Stating that similar tragic accidents have occurred before, Karasu pointed out that this is not the first time pilot captains have lost their lives while on duty.

Recalling that a pilot captain working in the Gulf also fell into the sea in a similar manner in 2022 and could not be saved, Karasu said, “It is understood that the General Directorate of Coastal Safety, which boasts about the high-level security measures introduced for ships navigating the Turkish Straits, does not show the same sensitivity regarding the life safety of the pilot captains working under its command. In this sense, an urgent assessment must be made for the life safety of pilot captains and crew, and risks must be identified. Identifying these risks in advance and taking precautions will be valuable not only for the safe performance of duties by pilot captains and crew but also for navigational safety in the straits.”

NEW POLICY AND REGULATIONS FOR CREW

Stating that the equipment and safety measures used on boats where pilot captains serve should be reviewed, Karasu requested an investigation into whether there was negligence in the death of pilot captain Oğuz Kök.

Karasu also drew attention to the importance of training provided for emergency situations such as pilot captains or crew falling into the sea. Asking, “By whom or whom is the training on this subject provided and how frequently? Are the knowledge and skills of the boat personnel audited? If they are audited, how often are they audited?” the CHP Deputy Chairman requested the Minister to answer the following questions:

"Are illuminated life jackets mandatory for transferred personnel? Is the claim true that ships are not equipped with appropriate pilot ladders and that man-overboard recovery devices have not been made mandatory on boats? Do the boats have equipment such as lifebuoys or floating devices?

What equipment is available on the boat used by Kök for emergency situations? Is this equipment sufficient in number and in an accessible location?

What are the working hours and rest periods for pilot captains? Is there any regulation or limitation regarding the working hours of captains?

Do long working hours or fatigue lead to a loss of concentration for pilot captains and create a risk to life safety?

Following the tragic incident in which Kök lost his life, what measures have been taken for the life safety of captains, and what measures have been or will be taken to prevent similar accidents from happening again?

Will new policies or regulations be implemented to ensure the life safety of pilot captains and other crew members?"

News Source: 12punto