French Flagged - Charter yacht sunk in fast-ferry collision, Splitska Vrata
A French-flagged charter yacht with eight Czech sailors aboard was struck by the passenger catamaran Krilo Eclipse in a busy Dalmatian channel and sank; four were lost.
What happened.
A French-flagged charter yacht with eight Czech sailors aboard was struck by the high-speed passenger catamaran Krilo Eclipse in Splitska Vrata, the busy channel between Šolta and Brač, on 14 June 2026. The yacht sank in about 50 metres of water and four of the eight were killed; the other four were rescued. The catamaran's first officer, navigating in place of the captain, was arrested as the investigation continues.
Shortly before 11:30 on the morning of Sunday 14 June 2026, the Croatian high-speed passenger catamaran Krilo Eclipse, running its scheduled Split–Hvar service with 118 passengers and seven crew, collided with a French-flagged charter sailing yacht carrying eight Czech citizens. The collision occurred in Splitska Vrata, the narrow channel between the islands of Šolta and Brač and one of the busiest waterways in central Dalmatia. The yacht was severely damaged and sank in roughly 50 metres of water; four of the eight aboard were killed and the other four were rescued from the sea and taken to hospital. Croatian police arrested the catamaran's 33-year-old first officer — who was navigating in place of the captain, reportedly not at the controls — on suspicion of a serious offence against maritime traffic safety. Investigators allege he had a clear view of the sailboat before the impact and are examining whether proper avoiding action was taken; the interior minister cited possible breaches of navigation-safety rules. The cause has not been formally adjudicated and the criminal case is ongoing.
What it teaches.
- 1In a busy ferry channel, assume you have not been seen and act early. This collision happened in Splitska Vrata, one of central Dalmatia's busiest passages, and investigators allege the catamaran officer had a clear view of the yacht yet still struck it. Keep a continuous lookout and take early, unambiguous avoiding action around fast scheduled traffic.
- 2Right-of-way is not protection. A sailing yacht may hold priority on paper, but against a high-speed catamaran on a fixed route the burden of staying alive falls on the smaller boat — plan crossings of ferry lanes deliberately and stay well clear rather than standing on.
- 3A holed yacht can sink in minutes and put the whole crew in the water — lifejackets worn, a grab bag, and a means of being found decide who is recovered alive. Here four of the eight aboard were rescued from the sea after the yacht went down in about 50 metres.
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