Charges filed in deadly ferry accident

The Attorney's Office in Rijeka has filed an indictment against three sailors from the Lastovo ship before the Municipal Court, charging them with criminal negligence against public safety.

The move comes following an investigation into the major accident which took place in August 2024 in the port of Mali Lošinj. Upon arrival, the Lastovo ferry loading ramp collapsed, killing three sailors and seriously injuring another.

Those facing the charges are the 37-year-old captain, the 33-year-old first officer, and the 50-year-old lead deckhand.

According to the indictment, the accused were aware that several of their colleagues were working under the raised and unsecured boarding ramp but they did not believe their lives were in danger.

Furthermore, the captain turned off the hydraulic pump, even though he knew that the ramp could not remain upright if the pump was not working. The deck chief did not order the helmsman to secure the ramp with wedges, and the first officer did not warn him.

As a result, the ramp collapsed and crushed the sailors.

The tragedy has cast a shadow over the entire maritime sector. Unions had feared that the blame would fall on crewmembers while management remained untouched.