Discover the T.leyla: Ratings & Maritime News

Lorient prosecutors have made the decision to close their investigation into the tragic collision between the 'Lady Özge', now known as the 'T. Leyla', and the trawler 'Père Milo', which occurred on April 8, 2012, approximately 36 kilometers west of Belle-Ile-en-Mer. This conclusion, nearly four years in the making, comes following a deeply saddening incident in which one of the crew members, Christophe Rio, aged 40, lost his life and has yet to be recovered. 'The case has not been formally reported to France, which means the Lorient court lacks jurisdiction,' stated Laureline Peyrefitte, prosecutor for Lorient. The investigative findings from the Coastguard of Brest have been forwarded to Turkish authorities, the vessel's flag state. Earlier reports from the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de la mer (BEA-Mer) identified critical factors contributing to the accident. These include fatigue among the crew and an alarm aboard the trawler that failed to activate. The BEA-Mer’s analysis suggested a lack of vigilant situation monitoring and inadequate anticipation regarding the avoidance maneuvers taken by the 'Lady Özge'. Both vessels appeared to operate under the assumption that they had the right of way. This conclusion has been met with resistance from Martial Rio, the father of the deceased crew member, who voiced concerns over the absence of judicial proceedings in Turkey. He has persistently argued for a trial in Lorient, as international law permits such actions when incidents occur outside French territorial waters. For further information, French news outlets have covered the story extensively, with reports featuring photographs available at [Le Télégramme](http://www.letelegramme.fr/morbihan/belle-ile-en-mer/naufrage-du-pere-milo-l-affaire-classee-sans-suite-06-04-2016-11021432.php) and [Ouest-France](http://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/lorient-56100/naufrage-du-pere-milo-belle-ile-il-ny-aura-pas-de-proces-4146439).

A specialized minesweeper is scheduled to investigate the wreck of the 'Père Milo', which sank after a collision with the tanker 'Lady Özge' on April 9, off the coast of Morbihan. Weather conditions permitting, the examination will focus on determining whether the trawler was actively fishing at the time of the incident, specifically by checking if its trawls were deployed in the water. This detail is crucial, as under maritime regulations, the tanker would have needed to yield to the fishing vessel had it been engaged in fishing activities. While the crew of the 'Lady Özge' contests the claim that the trawler was fishing, asserting that a person was present on the bridge of the 'Père Milo', the investigation continues, with the captain and two crew members being questioned on April 10 as part of ongoing inquiries into the case of alleged involuntary manslaughter.

In a dramatic turn of events, the wife of Christopher Rio, the captain who went missing following the tragic sinking of his trawler 'Père Milo' on April 9, has taken legal action. On April 12, she filed a formal complaint against the crew of the tanker 'Lady Özge' at the High Court in Lorient. Initial investigations into the incident prompted the release of the vessel on April 10, allowing it to head towards Dunkirk to deliver a cargo of sunflower oil. However, following a request from the Dunkirk Court, the vessel was later ordered to be arrested. As a result, the 'Lady Özge' has been docked at the quay since April 13 at 1 p.m., where forensic examinations commenced on the morning of April 17. This incident continues to unfold as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.