Image: The search for the missing Austrian skipper near Šolta/MMPI
The search for the missing Austrian skipper (46) near the Croatian island of Šolta has been officially suspended after five days, the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure announced.
The organised search ended on 30 July after extensive operations at sea and from the air failed to locate the missing man. Authorities said the case will now continue to be monitored during regular maritime safety and navigation patrols carried out by the Split Harbour Master’s Office and its local branches.
The incident began on 26 July, when the Austrian skipper fell into the sea from a charter catamaran near Šolta. Read the initial report in Austrian Skipper Missing after Falling from Charter Catamaran near Šolta.
Skipper fell into the sea while checking the vessel
The Austrian skipper went missing on the morning of 26 July after falling into the sea from a charter catamaran near Šolta.
According to information released during the initial phase of the operation, he had entered the water while checking a rope believed to have become entangled around one of the vessel’s propellers.
Strong wind, large waves and difficult sea conditions complicated the situation. The crew threw him a line, but he was unable to reach it and drifted away from the vessel.
Six Austrian nationals were on board the catamaran at the time. The missing man was an experienced skipper who had held a licence for 13 years.
The first report reached the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rijeka shortly after 9 am, prompting the immediate deployment of rescue boats and other available units.
Search covered the western Split archipelago
The search for the missing Austrian skipper continued without interruption from 26 to 30 July across a wide area of the western Split archipelago.
All available units from the Split Harbour Master’s Office and its branch offices in Hvar and Milna were involved, together with vessels from the Split Maritime and Airport Police and support from the Croatian Coast Guard.
The most intensive phase took place during the first two days. Three rescue boats from the Harbour Master’s Office and three police vessels searched the waters around Šolta and neighbouring areas.
As time passed without a confirmed sighting, the search zone was expanded. During the final two days, two rescue boats from the Hvar and Milna harbour offices and one police vessel continued searching the area.
Aircraft, helicopter and drone supported the operation
The search for the missing Austrian skipper was reinforced by aerial units coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rijeka in cooperation with the Croatian Coast Guard.
A Pilatus aircraft and a helicopter searched the wider area during the first two days of the operation.
A dedicated drone operated by the Split Harbour Master’s Office was also used throughout the search to survey the zones identified in the official search plan.
Despite the deployment of maritime, aerial and drone resources, no trace of the missing skipper was found.
Coordinated search for the missing Austrian skipper officialy suspended
On 30 July, the Maritime Safety Directorate agreed to suspend the coordinated search for the missing Austrian skipper.
The Ministry said that the considerable efforts and resources deployed over several days had unfortunately not resulted in locating the missing man.
“Since the efforts and resources deployed unfortunately did not result in locating the missing man, further action related to this emergency will continue as part of regular maritime traffic and navigation safety monitoring under the responsibility of the Split Harbour Master’s Office and its branch offices,” the Croatian Ministry of the Sea said.
