Government to grant HRK 240 million of subsidies to Croatian shippers

The Croatian Government on Thursday defined a programme for building ships specifying the financial support of a total HRK 240 million for this purpose until 2011.

The aim of the programme which envisages the building of nine ships for the transport of petroleum and petroleum products and two bulk cargo ships whose total value is nearly USD 559 million, is to renew the fleet and enhance the safety and security of navigation alongside the improvement of the sea and environmental protection.

The Sea and Transport Minister Božidar Kalmeta said that government subsidies would cover up to 30 percent of justified costs for the additional investments of shippers into the shipbuilding activities.

Some of terms for getting state grants are the entry of the newly-built ships into the Croatian registry of ships and Croatian crews of the vessels as well as the engagement of domestic producers.

The terms, okayed by the Croatian market competition agency, conform with European Union regulations.


(Hina)