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The Croatian government has removed the entire management board of state-owned ferry operator Jadrolinija following an investigation into a tragic accident that killed three crew members and seriously injured another.
The incident occurred on August 11, 2024, when the 1969-built ferry Lastovo docked at Mali Losing, an island off Croatia’s northern coast.
At around 1500 hours, the vessel’s bow ramp suddenly collapsed, trapping four crew members underneath. Two seafarers died at the scene, while a third succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The fourth crew member survived but was seriously injured.
A two-day mourning period was declared on the island for the lost crew members, and Croatia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs launched an investigation.
On February 3, 2025, the ministry released its findings, concluding that both the ferry operator and the ship’s captain had failed to follow safety procedures outlined in the Safety Management System (SMS).
The report revealed that the company had not properly trained the crew on how to handle a known hydraulic fault in the ramp system.
Investigators found that when the hydraulic power was shut off, the bow ramp could unexpectedly fall. While some crew members were aware of this risk, the majority did not know the danger, placing full responsibility on Jadrolinija for failing to provide proper training.
Senior investigator Captain Sinisa Orlic stated that the crew had not been informed about how the ramp functioned, and it was the company’s duty to ensure that they understood the risks.
The report cleared the crew of any fault, placing the blame on the company and the ship’s captain for not following International Safety Management (ISM) Code regulations.
After the report’s publication, Croatian authorities acted swiftly. Maritime Minister Oleg Butkovic publicly apologised to the victims’ families, stating that the deceased crew members had carried out their duties professionally and responsibly but lost their lives due to neglect by those in charge.
The ministry recommended legal action against Jadrolinija’s CEO, David Sopta, and the ship’s captain, holding them accountable for failing to implement proper safety protocols.
Within a day of the investigation’s findings, the Croatian government announced that the entire Jadrolinija management board would be dismissed.
CEO David Sopta, who had initially offered to resign after the accident, confirmed that he would step down voluntarily, avoiding possible criminal or administrative charges.
In a public statement, Sopta acknowledged his moral responsibility for the tragedy, even though he did not personally feel at fault. He confirmed that Jadrolinija had signed a settlement to provide financial compensation to the victims’ families, ensuring they received their full legal entitlements along with additional financial support from the company.
The Supervisory Board of Jadrolinija officially removed CEO David Sopta and two other board members, Goran Frkovic and Riano Buksa, based on a government decision.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure confirmed that this decision would take effect on February 14, 2025.
A government spokesperson stated that Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic had met with Sopta before the decision, and the State Attorney’s Office (DORH) is now considering whether to file criminal charges against the company’s leadership.
Reference: PortsEurope
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