‘Four Bell Towers’: A New Ferry Worth Approximately 7.8 Million Euros Delivered to Rapska Plovidba, Godmother Kolinda

At the Dalmont shipyard in Kraljevica, a new ferry worth approximately 7.8 million euros was delivered to Rapska Plovidba on Friday, with the godmother of the ship being the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who named it ‘Four Bell Towers’.

The ferry ‘Four Bell Towers’ is named after the four bell towers located in the old town core of Rab. It will connect Mišnjak on Rab and Stinica, on a route for which Rapska Plovidba has received a ten-year concession.

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The ferry can transport about 600 passengers and 100 vehicles. It has 7 or 8 crew members. The funds for its construction were secured from Rapska Plovidba’s own resources, as well as loans from HBOR and commercial banks. It was designed by the Rijeka-based Navis consult.

In addition to the Stinica – Mišnjak route, Rapska Plovidba also operates an inter-county line Rab – Lun (on Pag), which is less profitable and is financially supported by two respective counties.

Grabar-Kitarović Considers the Survival of Shipbuilding a Priority of Economic Policy

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović stated that just a few years ago, few believed in the future of Croatian shipbuilding, but that through restructuring, with the help of the Government and the diligent work of all employees, we managed to rise. She emphasized that Croatian shipbuilding has adapted and is ready to adjust to the needs of clients.

She assessed that shipbuilding is one of the drivers of development, that it is export-oriented, and that it generates exports of 500 to 700 million dollars annually, contributing to the balance of the country’s foreign trade and payment balance. She emphasized that Croatian shipbuilding ranks tenth in the world and third in Europe. According to her, there are currently 39 vessels in the order book of Croatian shipyards, worth a total of 1.84 billion dollars, of which 96 percent is intended for export.

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The President stated that she highlighted these data to emphasize the importance of ensuring the competitiveness and sustainability of the shipbuilding industry.

– I consider this one of the priorities of Croatian economic policy and a permanent obligation of the Croatian Government and all of us, she said, adding that “even today, almost five years after the privatization of large shipyards, for whose operations great responsibility rests on the new owners and management, the state is not entirely free from responsibility for this sector.”

She added that the Government must continue to carefully monitor the restructuring processes and act when necessary.

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The President also mentioned that last year, 10 ships were delivered in Croatia, which is below capacity, as in the best years, up to 20 were delivered. She emphasized that the importance of shipping will increase, that Croatia can play an important role in this, and that the success of any business largely depends on quality and expertise. She added that we must know how to retain skilled people in Croatia and that this is the only way to achieve success in this industry as well as in the overall economy, which is increasingly suffering from the consequences of emigration.

The President also mentioned that Dalmont has continued shipbuilding activities in Kraljevica, employing 155 people, with another 50 subcontractors, and congratulated Rapska Plovidba on its 55th anniversary.

Butković: Concessions to Domestic Shipowners

Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković stated that the Kraljevica shipyard is on the right path, that the Government has extended its concession, and that the owner will invest 130 million kuna in two phases by 2029.

He emphasized that 310 million kuna is allocated annually for maintaining the line coastal traffic and that the tender for the concession of 40 lines has been completed. All these lines were awarded to domestic shipowners, even though the tender was international, he said, emphasizing that this is a success for Croatian shipowners, the maritime system, as well as Croatian shipbuilders.

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Butković expects the Management of Jadrolinija to announce a tender and initiate the construction of new ships, which, he said, can be built in Croatia.

Regarding the construction of port infrastructure, he emphasized that a decision has been made to invest 7 million kuna for a ferry ramp at the ferry port in Mišnjak on Rab, which will facilitate the operations of Rapska Plovidba. He added that an investment has also begun in the ferry port in Stinica.