Two years ago, one of the worst accidents of the Adriatic occurred.

Jadrolinija has commemorated the three sailors who died aboard the ferry Lastovo during a solemn ceremony marking the second anniversary of the tragic incident. The memorial service took place today in the lobby of Jadrolinija’s headquarters in Rijeka, led by Reverend Mario Gerić. A delegation from the company’s management, accompanied by surviving crew members, laid a wreath in the sea near the port of Malom Lošinju, paying tribute to the deceased colleagues. All crews of Jadrolinija’s vessels sounded their sirens at 3 p.m. as part of the remembrance. The accident occurred on August 11, 2024, when the gangway ramp of the Lastovo collapsed onto the crew members who were below it conducting maintenance work. Three sailors, Boško Kostović, Denis Šarić, and Marko Topić, lost their lives, while the first deck officer suffered severe injuries. The incident happened around 3 p.m. in the port of Malom Lošinju as the ship was being secured. Crew members were working beneath the raised ramp, which suddenly fell, resulting in the tragedy. Following the disaster, multiple investigations were launched. The Agency for Investigating Accidents in Air, Maritime, and Railway Transport, the Ministry of Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure, and the State Inspectorate for Safety (DORH) conducted separate inquiries. The police and the state prosecutor’s office investigated potential criminal liability, while the Ministry of Sea and the agency focused on safety protocols and operational procedures. The key findings revealed serious deficiencies in the safety management system aboard the Lastovo and within Jadrolinija as a whole. The Ministry determined that the safety management system was not fully established, maintained, or implemented according to regulations. It also found that the captain of the Lastovo, Goran Đolong, had violated the rules governing the responsibilities of crew members when handling the gangway ramp. The investigation concluded that the failure to secure the ramp with wedges and the improper operation of the hydraulic pump contributed directly to the collapse. In response, the Ministry proposed initiating disciplinary proceedings against Jadrolinija, responsible personnel within the company, and the captain of the Lastovo. Meanwhile, the independent Accident Investigation Agency identified numerous safety shortcomings and issued 12 recommendations to Jadrolinija, including clearer procedures for handling and securing ramps, improved training for crews, installation of alarms and indicators for door and ramp positions, better record-keeping of maintenance activities, and enhanced risk assessment and internal safety controls. The Croatian Register of Ships received three additional recommendations. The incident escalated into a political issue, particularly regarding the responsibility of David Sopta, the former chairman of Jadrolinija’s Board of Directors, and whether the Minister of Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure, Oleg Butković, should bear political responsibility. After the release of the reports in February 2025, Butković announced he would seek Sopta’s resignation. Sopta stated he did not feel personally responsible for the tragedy but acknowledged his moral duty and was willing to resign. He had never been formally investigated over the incident. The government subsequently decided to replace the entire board of Jadrolinija. On March 11, 2025, the company’s shareholders unanimously removed Sopta along with board members Goran Frković and Rian Bukš. The decision took effect three days later. However, Butković did not resign nor was he replaced. A criminal investigation was initiated against the captain of the Lastovo, the first deck officer, and the head of the deck. In September 2025, the local public prosecutor’s office in Rijeka issued formal charges against all three men, accusing them of acting contrary to safety regulations and professional standards. The charges alleged that they knew the crew members were below the raised ramp, which was not properly secured with wedges. Specifically, the captain was charged with disabling the hydraulic pump despite knowing the ramp could remain raised only while the pump was operating. The head of the deck was accused of failing to order the securing of the ramp, while the first deck officer was blamed for not warning him to take action. According to the indictment, these failures directly led to the ramp collapsing on the crew members. The legal process is still ongoing. At the Rijeka City Court, proceedings began early in 2026 to determine the legality of the evidence and the basis of the charges. The defense sought to exclude parts of the evidence, including the witness statement and the findings of technical fraud, but the court ruled in favor of maintaining the integrity of the case. The trial continues as the legal system works through the complex implications of the tragedy.