Yankı Bağcıoğlu calls for continued search for nine missing sailors

Retired Rear Admiral Yankı Bağcıoğlu has issued a call to continue search efforts for nine missing sailors following the sinking of the Tuğberk İmamoğlu ship off the coast of Silivri. While expressing condolences for the deceased Captain Yaşar Kayhan, Bağcıoğlu emphasized that all technical options must be exhausted before operations are terminated.

Bağcıoğlu proposed the establishment of an independent technical committee composed of experts in underwater operations, ship recovery, and wreck removal. He suggested that if the entire vessel cannot be raised, authorities should consider creating controlled access points to the wreck to allow Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to search enclosed compartments or to remove specific sections of the ship to recover the remains of the missing crew members.

Furthermore, he requested that any decision to cease operations be supported by a reasoned technical report rather than verbal statements, and urged public institutions to maintain direct communication and support for the families of the missing.