A violent storm struck the Port of Split, Croatia, on Monday morning, leading to a maritime incident involving the Jadrolinija ferry Petar Hektorović. Under extreme weather conditions, the vessel broke free from its moorings and collided with two nearby vessels, including a large tourist boat that sank as a result.
The event occurred around 9 a.m. as torrential rain, strong winds, and hail swept across Split and its surroundings. The intense weather uprooted trees, flooded roads, and caused widespread power outages across the city. Amid the chaos, the Petar Hektorović’s mooring lines failed, and the ferry began drifting through the harbor.
Tourist vessel sinks after ferry breaks free
According to the Split Port Authority, the ferry first struck the Krilo catamaran before colliding with a large excursion boat. The impact caused the tourist vessel to sink rapidly. Witnesses said the situation escalated in minutes. One man, parked nearby, said he briefly looked away before realizing the ferry had vanished from its dock. Another observer reported hearing a loud crash amid the heavy rain, followed by the sight of a sinking boat and a man jumping overboard to escape.
Jadrolinija, Croatia’s national ferry operator, confirmed the incident in a statement:
“Due to extreme weather conditions in the port of Split, the rope of the ship Petar Hektorović broke and the ship came into contact with a tourist ship and a catamaran. According to initial information, there are no injuries and no sea pollution has been recorded so far.”
Crew response praised as investigation begins
The ferry crew responded swiftly.
“With the quick and composed reaction of the captain and crew of the ship Petar Hektorović, both anchors were dropped in a very short time and the ship was put into operation, which prevented major damage and consequences in the port of Split,” the company said.
Emergency services remain active at the port as authorities begin investigating the causes and consequences of the collision. Maritime operations in the area have been disrupted due to the severe storm and the incident’s aftermath.
Petar Hektorović is a well-known vessel in the Jadrolinija fleet, serving multiple coastal routes. The full extent of the damage to the ferry and the catamaran is still being assessed.
