The National Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Rijeka (MRCC Rijeka) received and responded to more than 270 calls last night and coordinated several emergency events at sea, mostly in the Zadar and Kvarner areas, the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure announced today.
Namely, due to the storm that lasted last night and tonight, numerous reports were received about a large number of vessels breaking away from their moorings, damage, strandings and partial or complete sinkings of vessels, for which MRCC Rijeka promptly engaged adequate assistance in cooperation with the competent port authorities, branches and other available services, while the crews of the vessels in distress were instructed to take the necessary actions in order to prevent or reduce damage to the vessels.
Saving “Melite”
The most demanding rescue efforts were made in the Zadar area, where last night, in the midst of a storm, the sea entered the catamaran “Melita”, which was sailing in the Zadar Channel at the time. The catamaran was carrying 38 passengers and 5 crew members who, during a major rescue operation, abandoned the ship in a raft that the Zadar Harbour Master’s Office towed to the Jadrolinija ship “Jadran”, where they were transferred and taken to the port of Gaženica.
Currently, work is being done to stabilize and inspect the catamaran so that it can be towed to a safe berth,
after which it will be possible to start the investigation into the causes of this maritime accident
Stranded vessels
In addition to the evacuation of the catamaran, several rescue operations were carried out for stranded vessels. On the islet of Brguljski (right next to the island of Molat), a yacht with several people on board ran aground, who were evacuated by employees of the Sali Port Office and brought to the island of Molat in a dinghy. Near the island of Ošljak, a boat ran aground, which the owner managed to moor in the harbor himself, and a dinghy with two people who swam to the island independently also capsized. On the stranded sailboat on the island of Ist, there were six people who were taken to safety.
The operations carried out in the Kvarner area included rescue operations for towing two sailboats that ran aground in the Mali Lošinj area, as well as several medical operations, including the transport of a minor with a concussion from Rab, a patient from Susak, and an elderly person suffering from a heart attack from the island of Žirje in the Šibenik area.
Everyone was saved
In addition to the aforementioned actions, MRCC Rijeka also carried out an action to locate the fishing boat and its crew
found at sea in the midst of a strong storm that affected the coastal and coastal areas last night and tonight
northern and central Adriatic.
Let us emphasize that all persons from the mentioned actions were saved, and everyone was involved in the actions
available services and resources. The Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure hereby thanks
to all rescue units engaged in operations that were successfully completed without casualties and without
sea pollution.
