Innovation from Sesvete Already Exporting: Dockers Wanted by Marinas in the Mediterranean, UAE, Saudi Arabia

Not even half a year since the launch of serial production of Dockers, an innovative technological solution for marinas developed in Sesvete, which is on the verge of obtaining an internationally recognized patent, the calls from interested clients from Europe, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, keep coming in.

A meeting with investor partners interested in installing Dockers in three marinas in Dubai was held just a few hours before our call on Thursday by Bruno Sokač, the project initiator and CEO of Kontis, the company supporting the project. Prior to that, there was a trip to Doha, with unexpectedly good results, the METS fair in Amsterdam, and then the Boot Düsseldorf 2024 fair that just concluded a few days ago, where around a hundred presentations were conducted and who knows how many B2B meetings took place. Completely unplanned, as it was a public fair that was supposed to be in a showcase tone, but the six Docker team members did not have time to turn around from work in nine days.

– We have reached the point where the project is pushing itself, that the product is in demand, that it is already known in the market, and that is what we wanted to achieve, although we are a bit surprised by the dynamics. However, it turned out that instead of the audience strolling through the fair, potential partners appeared at this last fair who had read about Docker a year and a half ago in Marina World magazine, and they know exactly what it is about. Our posts on LinkedIn and Instagram helped us a lot in promotion, where those looking for smart technological solutions found us, and ours is unique in the world – explains Bruno Sokač, who is quite confident that both Dubai and Doha will materialize, as well as of course the first installations of Dockers in Croatian marinas next season. Negotiations are ongoing, so we do not have details yet.

A Solution for Nautical Enthusiasts

Docker is a next-generation product in the marine equipment industry, designed as a platform that conceals all possible solutions for nautical enthusiasts – from cables for electricity and water that automatically and quickly reel in, to wastewater storage, and it is made from recyclable materials. Docker is installed semi-submerged on the side of a pontoon, and with it, boats no longer need their own cables, as connection to any vessel is possible with a few standard adapters.

Additionally, the system is connected to a smart unit that controls, monitors, and measures all parameters such as water and electricity consumption, available free spots, which can be managed via a mobile app. The internal structure as well as the housing are made of aluminum, which is also a sustainable solution for the environment.

The development of this innovation started spontaneously, out of personal frustration, as Sokač persistently sought a solution that would spare him from reeling in cables in plus 40 degrees. As is known to every nautical enthusiast, traditionally every boat has its own cable and hose stored on board, and without any automation, working around cables and hoses can turn into hard physical labor.

The Docker project was developed with the technical support of Kontis, which operates in the metal processing industry, and this was a mitigating circumstance, as there was no pressure that would come from potential borrowing or investor expectations. Kontis established a research and development department for the needs of Docker in 2019, with contributions to product development from two mechanical engineers, Goran Vajdić and Ante Palinić, while Mario Topalović is responsible for presenting and implementing the product in the market. Of course, a number of external partners and suppliers were engaged in the product development.

Docker was ultimately tested last summer at the Polesana marina in Pula, and serial production began on August 21. From prototype development to serial production, Docker underwent some modifications, meaning it can be produced in multiple versions, depending on client needs. With current capacities, it will be able to produce 500 devices annually, and the investor plans to recoup the investment within a period of 2 to 5 years under optimal conditions.

– We noted that date, as many steps had to be taken to start serial production. We hope that the first series of about 20 Dockers will go to Croatian marinas we are negotiating with, and we have inquiries for Dockers along the Mediterranean, Portugal, Greece, Spain, and now in Düsseldorf we encountered great interest from investors in Turkey. Turkey and Albania are currently the fastest-growing markets, and we see a lot of potential there – says Sokač.

They also see great potential in the aforementioned markets outside of Europe. Their placement will be aided by the fact that they already have an international patent registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Although the actual granting of the patent is awaited, in the meantime, no one is allowed to produce anything similar to Docker.

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