Ferry Melita Sinks Near Zadar; All Safely Rescued

On June 16, the Croatian ferry Melita sank off the country’s coastline after waves struck the vessel and caused a crack in its hull. At the time of the incident, the ferry was carrying 38 passengers and five crew members. The accident happened shortly before 10 p.m. local time, just minutes before the vessel was expected to arrive at the Port of Zadar.

Evacuation and Swift Rescue Response

After the hull breach, passengers and crew quickly evacuated into a life raft. Responding to the emergency, the Jadran—a ferry operated by Jadrolinija, Croatia’s state-run ferry operator—along with a rescue boat from the Zadar Port Authority, came to assist.

The rescue vessel towed the life raft to safety, allowing everyone to transfer onto the Jadran. From there, the rescued individuals were brought to Gaženica, a nearby port.

No Injuries Reported

Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities occurred during the evacuation and rescue. Authorities confirmed that all passengers and crew were accounted for and in good health.

About the Vessel

The Melita is a high-speed ferry built in 1985 and registered under the Croatian flag. It measures 27.01 meters in length and has a beam of 9.1 meters.