Three crew members lost their lives when a multi-ton ramp fell on them. While criminal proceedings against three sailors continue, former Jadrolinija CEO David Sopta has been given a new state role.
On this day exactly two years ago, August 11, 2024, one of the worst accidents in Jadrolinija's history occurred at the ferry port in Mali Lošinj. Around 3 p.m., the bow loading ramp of the ferry Lastovo, weighing several tons, suddenly fell onto crew members who were inspecting it from below. Chief engineer Boško Kostović and helmsmen Marko Topić and Denis Šarić were killed on the spot, while the chief officer sustained serious injuries.
The accident immediately triggered multiple parallel investigations. The police and the State Attorney's Office took over the criminal aspect, the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure probed potential maritime violations, and an independent safety investigation was led by the Air, Maritime and Railway Traffic Accident Investigation Agency.
Key findings from Minister Oleg Butković's investigation were released in February 2025 and pointed to systemic problems. It was established that Jadrolinija's safety management system was not fully established, maintained, and implemented as required. The master of the Lastovo violated provisions defining crew responsibilities when working with the bow ramp. The Ministry proposed initiating misdemeanor proceedings against Jadrolinija, the responsible person at the company, and the master himself.
Meanwhile, the Accident Investigation Agency issued as many as 12 safety recommendations to Jadrolinija and an additional three to the Croatian Register of Shipping. The recommendations included clearer procedures for handling and securing ramps, better crew training, installation of alarms and door position indicators, and a more robust risk assessment and internal control system.
The investigation's findings also stirred political turbulence. After the report was published, Minister Butković announced he would seek the dismissal of then-management board president David Sopta. Sopta responded that he "does not feel personal guilt for the tragedy but feels moral responsibility and is ready to step down."
The government decided to remove the entire three-member management board. On February 11, 2025, Jadrolinija's assembly unanimously recalled Sopta and board members Goran Frković and Rian Bukša, with the decision taking effect three days later. Minister Butković, however, neither resigned nor was dismissed.
The criminal investigation took a different path. In February 2025, the State Attorney's Office launched an investigation against the ship's master, chief officer, and boatswain. In September 2025, the Municipal State Attorney's Office in Rijeka indicted them for a serious criminal offense against public safety. They are accused of knowing that crew members were beneath the raised ramp, which was not secured with locking pins. The master is specifically charged with turning off the hydraulic pump despite knowing the ramp could only remain raised while the pump was running.
The criminal trial at the Municipal Court in Rijeka has not yet concluded with a final verdict. In early 2026, the court began reviewing the legality of evidence, and in March it rejected the defense's request to exclude part of the evidence as unfounded. During the proceedings, the defense of the accused seamen challenged the legality of key evidence, including the hydraulic valve and other technical elements, but the court dismissed these requests.
On the other hand, the criminal complaint filed by the Seafarers' Union against Sopta and other executives was dismissed. The prosecution concluded that their failures could only constitute a misdemeanor. Consequently, in October 2025, the Ministry filed a misdemeanor charge against Jadrolinija and the responsible person, namely David Sopta. In early 2026, that case was transferred from Rijeka to the Zadar Harbor Master's Office for organizational reasons.
Two years after the tragedy, the judicial and political epilogues remain diametrically opposed. The three seamen face criminal proceedings, while the former head of Jadrolinija has since been given a new state role. In April 2026, the government proposed David Sopta as a member of ACI's management board, a move that further stirred public opinion.
On the second anniversary of the tragedy, August 11, 2026, commemorations for the fallen seamen were held in Rijeka and Mali Lošinj. The program began at 9 a.m. with a joint prayer in the lobby of Jadrolinija's headquarters in Rijeka, led by Rev. Mario Gerić, attended by numerous company employees. After the prayer, a delegation from Jadrolinija's management, accompanied by fellow seafarers, laid a wreath into the sea in the Lošinj waters, paying tribute to the victims near the site of the accident.
The central act of collective remembrance followed at 3 p.m., exactly when the tragedy occurred. All Jadrolinija ships across the Adriatic sounded their horns, sending a recognizable and emotional salute in memory of the deceased crew members. On that occasion, the mayor of Mali Lošinj, Ana Kučić, said that the tragedy that deeply shook the island community has not been forgotten. "Today, two years after the tragedy that deeply shook us, we remembered with sorrow and respect the three seamen who tragically lost their lives on the ferry 'Lastovo'. In silence and remembrance, we paid tribute to Boško Kostović, Marko Topić, and Denis Šarić," Kučić stated. She particularly highlighted the connection between Lošinj and its residents with seafaring, which has been an important part of the island's life and identity for generations. "As an island community that has for generations sent its seafarers to seas around the world, we deeply sympathize with their families, colleagues, and all who carry them in their hearts. Some tragedies time does not erase, and some people we do not forget. May they rest in peace," the mayor concluded.
