Statement from the Zonguldak Governorate regarding the Kafkametler debris

The Zonguldak Governorship announced that no findings related to the 7 missing crew members of the Kafkametler ship, which sank after hitting a military breakwater 163 days ago, have been found during the salvage operations. The Turkish-flagged cargo ship named Kafkametler, which set sail from the Russian port of Temryuk with 12 Turkish crew members to transport cargo to the port of Aliağa in Izmir, anchored in front of the Karadeniz Ereğli Port on November 19, 2023, due to adverse weather conditions. The ship sank after hitting a military breakwater at 10:24. On the fifth day of the search and rescue operations, the lifeless bodies of 5 crew members were recovered.

Salvage Operations

Within the scope of the search and rescue operations, the search and salvage activities for the missing seafarers are continuously carried out by Aras Ship Salvage and Wreck Removal Company. A cutting operation was carried out by passing a chain through the luff of the wreckage on the second deck of the living quarters on the port side, and the ship’s bridge, luffs, and masts were cut and placed on a platform.

As a result of detailed examinations, it was stated that no findings related to the missing seafarers were found in the extracted section. The first part of the wreckage (stern) was scanned with a polyp on the stern mirror and the port side, and it was stated that the extraction work of the other parts is ongoing.

It was noted in the statement that all possibilities have been used from the day of the incident until now, and all search activities have been carried out on the coastal band of the district, inside and outside the port, and in the sunken area by human and technical teams from land, sea, and air; and no evidence regarding the missing crew has been found. It was stated that the coastal scanning activities are carried out day and night by teams affiliated with the Provincial Gendarmerie Command, Provincial Security Directorate, and Coast Guard Command.

It was mentioned that the efforts to find the missing crew continue with the coordination and cooperation of relevant institutions, and all possibilities are being carefully evaluated through periodic consultation meetings and conducted operations.