Plovput is about to sign major contracts with other Adriatic nations.
According to unofficial sources, Plovput, a company responsible for the safety of navigation in Croatia, is about to sign contracts for construction of navigation aids in Montenegro, reports Jutarnji List on February 4, 2017.
The company is also in negotiations with Slovenian authorities, and it has plans to expand to other countries as well. Last year, the company strengthened its technical capacities and acquired a new ship worth 43.6 million kuna, which enables faster construction of navigation aids.
“Although the main task of the new ship is the construction of new and maintenance of existing navigation aid facilities in Croatia, we plan to use it in other markets as well. This is why we had two meetings with potential partners in the maritime and business circles of Montenegro, including a meeting with the maritime administration in Montenegrin port of Bar. Last year, we presented our professional and technical capabilities and discussed the possibilities for cooperation. The Montenegrin side has shown great interest for the construction of new navigation aids along its coast, in order to increase the level of safety. We also plan to develop business contacts with Slovenia about potential use of our new ship”, said Darko Meštrović, CEO of Plovput.
Thanks to the new ship, last year the company constructed 15 new navigational aids, which has significantly increased the safety of navigation in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea. In the past five years, Plovput has invested 92 million kuna in the safety of navigation.
According to Meštrović, Plovput plans to invest in the safety of navigation 14.7 million kuna this year. By the end of the year, Croatia will get 17 new navigation aid facilities. In this way, Plopvut directly contributes to raising the standard of safety at sea and reduces the chances for accidents. The priorities are determined together with port authorities and the Transport Ministry.
At this point, in addition to permanent stand-by service with three coastal radio stations, Plovput manages 1,091 facilities along 6,278 kilometres of coastline. The largest and most important navigation aids are lighthouses. There are 46 lighthouses in Croatia, 17 with a crew, while 29 are fully automatic.
