The Jadrolinija Seafarers’ Union Demands the Resignation of David Sopta

Zagreb, April 15, 2024. – The Jadrolinija Seafarers’ Union has requested the resignation of Jadrolinija’s CEO David Sopta, claiming he is responsible for the purchase of old and unsafe ships and that he knew the ship “Oliver” was not ready for the Split – Vela Luka – Ubli route.

Union Accusations

In a letter addressed to the Assembly and Supervisory Board of Jadrolinija, as well as to seafarers and workers, the union emphasizes that after four months of the ship “Oliver” being in the repair shipyard, CEO Sopta had all the information from the technical department, safety officer, and HR department that the ship was not ready to take over the route. This was also confirmed by an inspection by the Port Authority.

“It was yet another failed attempt by Sopta to conceal the real state of affairs in Jadrolinija for his own promotion, at the expense of the technical integrity of the ships, which ultimately affects passenger safety,” the union states.

Example of the Ship “Oliver”

The union emphasizes that the purchase of old and unsafe ships, in which little or no investment is made, endangers the safety of passengers and crew. An example is the ship “Oliver”, which has been in the repair shipyard for four months, while the route it should maintain still lacks an adequate vessel.

“Jadrolinija, under the leadership of this CEO, shows its true face and the directions in which it actually renews the fleet,” states the Jadrolinija Seafarers’ Union, one of the three unions in the company.

Delayed Introduction of the Ship into Service

Last week, after final testing at the Viktor Lenac shipyard, the introduction of the ship “Oliver” into the maintenance of the state ferry line Split – Vela Luka – Ubli was temporarily postponed due to an additional request from the Port Authority. Jadrolinija stated that the request will be fulfilled as soon as possible, primarily for the safety of passengers and crew.

Conclusion

The union warns that the current management, led by David Sopta, endangers the fleet’s safety and thus calls into question the trust of passengers and employees. His resignation has been requested, along with an urgent change in the way Jadrolinija renews ships and maintains state lines.