A fatal collision occurred on Sunday in the Splitska Vrata strait, one of the busiest maritime corridors on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, when the high-speed passenger catamaran MV Krilo Eclipse struck a French-flagged sailboat carrying Czech nationals.
The incident took place on Sunday, during MV Krilo Eclipse’s scheduled voyage from Split to Hvar. The vessel was carrying 118 passengers and seven crew members at the time. The sailboat, approximately 14 metres in length, had eight Czech nationals on board.
The impact led to catastrophic damage to the sailboat, which sank shortly after the collision. Three people on board were killed immediately, while four others were pulled from the water during an extensive search and rescue operation. One person was initially reported missing but was later found inside the wreck, bringing the confirmed death toll to four.
The damaged catamaran was later towed to the Port of Split, where authorities reported visible damage to the starboard side hull. All passengers were safely disembarked.
On Wednesday, Croatian police arrested a 33-year-old crew member of MV Krilo Eclipse on suspicion of committing a criminal offence against maritime traffic safety. Authorities confirmed that the investigation is focused on whether required collision-avoidance measures were properly followed during navigation in the congested strait.
Interior Minister Davor Božinović stated that initial findings indicate a breach of maritime safety regulations that resulted in the fatal collision. Authorities have not confirmed whether the detained individual was serving as the vessel’s first officer, as reported by local media. The suspect is expected to be handed over to a detention supervisor pending further proceedings.
Three of the injured victims sustained minor injuries, while one remains hospitalised with serious spinal trauma. The Croatian Maritime Accident Investigation Agency has launched a safety investigation to determine the full sequence of events.
The wreck of the sailboat remains on the seabed at more than 50 metres depth, and salvage experts say recovery operations will be technically challenging due to depth and conditions. Authorities are currently preparing a complex wreck removal plan.
