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A Turkish businessman sailing from Yalova, Türkiye, toward Greece has gone missing after his private yacht was discovered heavily damaged and partially submerged near Marmara Island, located in the Sea of Marmara.
The man, 43-year-old Halit Yukay, had reportedly set out alone aboard a vessel named Graywolf before losing contact with those onshore.
According to Türkiye’s Coast Guard, teams launched a search and rescue operation after Yukay’s relatives reported him missing.
The authorities eventually found the vessel adrift in a wrecked condition, but there was no sign of its owner. Efforts to locate Yukay are still ongoing, with specialized units continuing to scour the area by sea and air.
Footage from the marina in Yalova has surfaced, showing Yukay departing the harbor in his yacht before the incident.
The video, which appears to have been recorded by a security camera, captured the moment the vessel left the dock, though it provides no clues about what may have happened afterward.
Yalova is a coastal province in northwestern Türkiye, situated on the southern shores of the Sea of Marmara.
The route between Yalova and Greece involves crossing open waters that can sometimes be unpredictable, especially for smaller vessels.
Halit Yukay is the founder and CEO of Mazu Yachts, a Türkiye-based company known for designing and manufacturing custom luxury yachts.
Founded on his childhood passion for the sea and craftsmanship, the company has earned recognition both in Türkiye and abroad for its sleek designs and high-performance vessels.
Yukay is considered a prominent figure in the Turkish marine industry. Mazu Yachts is known to cater to elite clientele, including several celebrities in Türkiye. The firm has built a reputation for combining advanced technical features with tailored aesthetics in its yacht production.
As the search continues, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
No official statements have been made regarding the cause of the damage to the Graywolf, and authorities have not ruled out any possibilities.
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