Stranding a passenger ship at the Split Gate causes emergency medical evacuation and hull damage

In the early morning hours of October 12, 2024, a passenger ship with 30 people on board, including crew and passengers, ran aground on a reef near Split Gates, a sea passage between the islands of Brač and Šolta. The ship was sailing from Bol to Kaštela when the accident occurred, prompting an emergency rescue operation led by MRCC Rijeka. The captain of the ship immediately reported the accident to the relevant authorities, and shortly thereafter, a report was sent about three injured passengers, which further accelerated the response of the rescue teams.

According to reports, the injured passengers required urgent medical evacuation, which is why the port authority from Milna and the medical team from Supetar immediately set sail towards the accident site. An emergency medical transport vessel transferred the injured persons to Split City Harbor, where they were taken over by emergency medical staff and transported to KBC Split. All remaining passengers, 25 of them, were transferred to a replacement ship of the same owner and also delivered to the City Harbor for safety checks and medical examinations.

The first investigation at the accident site, conducted by officials from the Split port authority and inspectors from Milna, confirmed that there was no contamination of the sea or threat to the marine environment. Despite this, the 15-meter-long ship sustained significant damage to the bow section of the hull. The owner of the ship was ordered to arrange commercial salvage and secure the tow of the ship to a safe mooring, where further investigation into the causes of this maritime accident will continue.

For now, it is not known what exactly caused this accident, but it is common for such incidents to occur due to human error, technical problems, or adverse weather conditions. In any case, the services responded quickly and efficiently to ensure the safety of the passengers and prevent any potentially greater consequences for the environment.

This incident highlights the importance of rapid response by maritime services in situations where safety at sea is at risk. Maritime accidents, especially groundings, are not uncommon in the Adriatic waters due to complex navigation conditions and numerous islands, which requires constant preparedness and coordination among all relevant services.

Considering the damage to the ship and the seriousness of the situation, the investigation will take time to determine all details and ensure timely repair of the damaged ship. There were no indications of ecological consequences, but further inspections will ensure complete safety before final measures for the removal of the ship from the reef are decided.