Prime Minister JADRANKA KOSOR formally christened the passenger ship Jadran, built for the domestic shipping company Jadrolinija, at a ceremony in the harbour of the southern city of Split on Saturday.
Kosor said the newly-built ship was a good sign for this year's tourist season. "I'm confident this will be an excellent season. We're attaching great importance to tourism and to our shipping company Jadrolinija and to everything that is being done to achieve economic growth."
"I'm sure this won't be the last ship you've built," Kosor said, adding that 140 million euros had been spent on the modernisation of the fleet.
The prime minister was accompanied by Finance Minister Ivan Suker, Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Bozidar Kalmeta, Economy Minister Djuro Popijac, Croatian Navy 
Admiral Ante Urlic, Split Mayor Jure Sundov and Split County Prefect Ante Sanader.
Jadrolinija CEO Slavko Loncar said that the ship, the 51st in Jadrolinija's fleet, can carry 1,200 passengers and 138 cars and develop a speed of 13 nautical miles. It will be operating between Split and Stari Grad on the island of Hvar.
(Hina)