Authorities are intensifying the search for prominent Turkish businessman Halit Yukay, founder and owner of Mazu Yachts, a company renowned for producing luxury yachts that combine high-end design with advanced technology. The 43-year-old entrepreneur, married to a Greek woman and father of one, has been missing since Saturday night, August 4, when he set sail from Yalova in southwestern Turkey aboard his yacht Graywolf, bound for the Greek island of Mykonos.

Yukay departed at 15:10 on August 4, but the following day his yacht was discovered severely damaged and broken into pieces at sea, with no trace of him. The Turkish Coast Guard located the half-submerged vessel off the coast of Proconnesus. A cargo ship captain, identified by the initials C.T., reported feeling a vibration at the time and then spotting two pieces of wood floating on either side of his vessel, along with a life raft.

C.T. was later arrested on charges of “manslaughter through negligence” and released under restrictive conditions, including a travel ban. In his statement, he claimed he had not noticed the yacht’s presence due to his mental state and the number of other vessels in the area. A Coast Guard investigation found scrape marks on the bow of the cargo ship, strengthening suspicions that it had collided with the Graywolf.

Halit Yukay’s passion for the sea began early—he designed his first boat at just six years old. His company has become a leader in the luxury yacht sector, and his wife serves as Mazu Yachts’ Head of Marketing and Public Relations.

Family members alerted authorities after they failed to reach him, prompting a search that has now entered its third day. Divers, helicopters, and Coast Guard vessels are scouring the area, but so far, no further signs of the missing businessman have been found.

Search operations are continuing without pause.