An Istanbul court has issued the seizure of a Maltese bulker that crashed into the Hekimbaşı Salih Efendi mansion, on the Bosphorus, on April 7. The warrant for seizure came after the owners of the mansion apllied to Istanbul 17th Commercial Court of First Instance.
The owners of the Hekimbaşı Salih Efendi mansion applied to the Istanbul 17th Commercial Court of First Instance on April 9, demanding the seizure of the ship “Vitaspirit”, after it crashed on their mansion, causing extensive damage.
The owners said the mansion lost its historical status after the crash, and said that the mansion is now pending a permission from the Council of Monuments for its reconstruction. This work can cost from $40-50 million.
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The court ordered the Maltese “Vitaspirit” to be seized, noting that the seizure will be valid until the mansion’s owners are paid $50 million.
On behalf of the mansion owners, lawyers Nazlı Selek and Erdal Gökçe, informed that notices are currently being delivered to the port authority and coastal safety authorities regarding the seizure of the ship, according to Hurrieyet Daily.
“Vitaspirit” was sailing through the Bosphorus, when it into the mansion. The crashed was caused because of a technical problem, forcing the ship to lose control. The ship is currently moored in Marmara Sea.
As a result of the crash, the building’s roof and upper floors collapsed, while the basement fell into the water.