The State Secretary for Sea Branko Bačić has signed today the Contract for supporting the reconstruction of a passenger and excursion fleet with 10 ship operators of small private entrepreneurs.
According to the State Secretary for Sea Branko Bačić, the value of the hulls of these ten boats amounts up to HRK 10 million and the Ministry will cover 10 % of those costs. The value of the whole fleet will be approximately EUR 1 million.
The ships will be constructed in domestic shipyards which will help their revival, especially of those on the Adriatic islands, added the State Secretary.
Related to the above mentioned Program, which was accepted on the meeting of the Croatian Government held on 7th April 2005, the Ministry has organized a public tendering for assigning financial support from the budget for the construction of the hulls of passenger ships up to 100 GT and excursion ships up to 300 GT in Croatian shipyards.
The goals of these programs are as follows: enhance sailing security, improve the tourist offer and traffic connections, support the development of small enterprises and strengthen small shipyards (esp. on islands), the preservation of nature and the prolongation of the tourist season.