First Officer of Catamaran Arrested Following Fatal Collision Near Brač
After a catamaran collided with a sailing vessel between Šolta and Brač, Croatian authorities arrested a 33-year-old sailor. Four people were killed in the accident.
First Officer of Catamaran Arrested Following Fatal Collision Near Brač
Croatian police services have arrested a 33-year-old sailor who was on duty aboard the catamaran at the time it collided with a sailing vessel. The accident occurred on Sunday morning at sea between the islands of Šolta and Brač, and four people lost their lives in the incident.
The arrested man is a Croatian citizen and held the position of first officer. An investigation has been launched against him on suspicion that his actions endangered the safety of maritime traffic. If it is proven that failure to comply with navigation rules led to multiple manslaughter, the court could sentence him to imprisonment for a period of between three and fifteen years.
The tragic event occurred around 11:40 hours in an area known as Split Gate. This is a narrow maritime passage, just one thousand metres long, which presents a major risk for vessels during the summer months due to the high density of ships and yachts.
The catamaran was operating on a regular route from Split to Hvar and was carrying 118 passengers along with seven crew members. The sailing vessel had eight crew members, all Czech citizens, and was travelling from Trogir to the same destination.
Following the violent impact, the sailing vessel, 14 metres in length, sank. Diving teams found it at a depth of over 50 metres. Within one compartment of the sunken vessel, the remains of the last missing victim were discovered. The search for the victim lasted a considerable time.
In addition to the four dead, four other people were injured in the collision. This is one of the most serious maritime accidents on the Adriatic in recent times.
Report conveyed on the basis of information from 24ur.com.
Source: 24ur