June the 19th, 2026 – The catamaran officer on the Krilo Eclipse which collided with a sailboat faces 15 years in prison following the fatal collision which claimed four lives. The sailboat skipper has since left Croatia.
As Index writes, The skipper of the sailing boat involved in the deadly collision with a passenger catamaran in the Split area has left Croatia, while the first officer of the catamaran has been arrested and could face up to 15 years in prison, according to reports.
The tragedy happened in the waters of Splitska Vrata, the channel between the nearby islands of Šolta and Brač, when the passenger catamaran “Krilo Eclipse” collided with a sailing boat flying the French flag. The accident resulted in the deaths of four Czech nationals who were on board the otherwise French-flagged sailboat.
At the time of the collision, the sailboat was carrying eight Czech citizens, while the catamaran was carrying 118 passengers and seven crew members. Four people from the sailboat were rescued from the sea and taken to hospital with injuries. The catamaran passengers and crew were not reported injured.
According to reports, police have launched a criminal investigation into the 33-year-old first officer of the catamaran, who is suspected of a serious offence against maritime traffic safety. Investigators suspect that a breach of navigation safety regulations contributed to the deaths. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of between three and 15 years.
The investigation has also revealed that the catamaran’s captain was not at the controls at the moment of the crash. The first officer was reportedly in charge of navigating the vessel when the collision occurred.
Meanwhile, the skipper of the sailboat has left Croatia following the accident. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the actions of both vessels before impact. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been officially determined.
The wreck of the sailboat was later located on the seabed at a depth of more than 50 metres, and authorities recovered the final missing victim from inside the vessel. The operation to examine and remove the wreck is considered technically demanding due to the depth and location.
The incident has renewed debate over maritime safety in one of Croatia’s busiest sailing areas, where passenger vessels, yachts and charter boats frequently share narrow sea passages during the summer tourist season.
