On January 31, 2018, at 06:19pm local time (UTC +1), a collision occurred in the Prvić Channel between the passenger ship Tijat and the cargo ship Plavi Jadran.
The passenger ship Tijat struck the left side of the cargo ship Plavi Jadran with its bow, approximately 2.5 meters forward of the load line mark. As a result, seawater entered the cargo hold, causing Plavi Jadran to sink to the seabed at a depth of 19 meters. The Tijat sustained minor material damage to the external plating of its bow section and its stem.
There were no injuries or fatalities among the crew, passengers, or third parties. No damage was inflicted on third parties, and no fuel or oil pollution from the vessels was observed in the sea or the surrounding environment.
Following the analysis of the Marine accident, the Air, Marine, and Railway Accident Investigation Agency has issued the following safety recommendations:
✓ AIN05-SR-1/2021
It is recommended that Jadrolinija Rijeka ensures the capability to dim the brightness of all devices installed on the bridges of the vessels it operates, so that they do not hinder night-time navigation.
✓ AIN05-SR-2/2021
It is recommended that Jadrolinija Rijeka remove or replace the tinted acrylic windows on the bow side wings of the bridge of the vessel Tijat with suitable untinted glass. If sunshades are needed, they should be removable and not fixed. tj. ne smiju biti fiksni).
✓ AIN05-SR-3/2021
It is recommended that Jadrolinija Rijeka ensures the presence of an additional watchkeeping officer, alongside the ship’s captain, on State Shipping Line No. 505 (Vodice – Prvić Šepurine – Prvić Luka – Zlarin – Šibenik and return). This officer should be able to take over the navigational watch and reduce the captain’s workload.
✓ AIN05-SR-4/2021
It is recommended that Fažanka Tours refreshes the watchkeeping officers knowledge or provides additional training on collision avoidance rules at sea, as well as on national regulatory obligations regarding navigation at an appropriate distance from the coast and at legally permitted speeds.
✓ AIN05-SR-5/2021
It is recommended that Fažanka Tours ensures compliance with national regulatory obligations related to:
Reporting ship departures and arrivals at ports,
Navigating within the assigned navigation category,
Embarking adequately trained and medically fit crew members, in accordance with the Minimum Safe Manning Certificate requirements.