ZAGREB, 10 March 2022 - Seafarers employed in the Jadrolinija Croatian national shipping company on Thursday rallied in the port of Gaženica, Zadar, to protest against low pays and the model of overtime payment.

A leader of the independent trade union of seafarers in Jadrolinija, Nikica Grbić, said that the rally had brought together over a hundred seafarers who expressed their dissatisfaction with the retirement package. Gbrić said that upon retirement, former seafarers were paid only HRK 8,000 as severance pay.

The unionist said that the negotiations on the national collective agreement had been ongoing for a decade.

The disgruntled seafarers criticized the current acting chairman of the Jadrolinija board, David Sopta, claiming he is incompetent.

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May 7, 2021 - As part of NATO, Croatia participates in a large military exercise called DEFENDER-Europe-21, and UK and US navy ships arrived in Zadar with valuable equipment to be distributed among training areas in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Large-scale, multinational, and army-lead, DEFENDER-Europe is a joint exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between the U.S., NATO, and partner militaries. This year's edition DEFENDER-Europe-21, as reported by U.S. Army Europe and Africa website, focuses on „Building operational readiness and interoperability with a greater number of NATO allies and partners over a wider area of operations is defensive in nature and focused on responding to the crisis if necessary“, and also shows that „the U.S. commitment to NATO is ironclad.“

The exercise also includes strict COVID prevention and mitigation measures, such as pre-deployment COVID testing and quarantining and the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy show significant involvement and will utilize key ground and maritime routes bridging Europe, Asia, and Africa – continues the website.

„Exercises new high-end capabilities such the new U.S. Army Security Force Assistance Brigades, air, and missile defense assets and the recently reactivated V Corps and demonstrates our ability to serve as a strategic security partner in the western Balkans and the Black Sea regions while sustaining our abilities in northern Europe, the Caucasus, Ukraine, and Africa“, adds the exercise goals the official U.S. Army website.

Apart from the U.S., Approximately 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations conduct nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in 12 countries, and as a NATO member, Croatia has not been left out of the drill.

U.S. Naval Ship Yuma arrives in Zadar, Croatia © Sgt. Alexandra Shea

As part of the exercise, U.S. Naval Ship Yuma and U.K. Vessel Hurst Point off-loaded more than 300 pieces of military equipment in Zadar, Croatia’s Gazenica port, after ferrying it from Durres in Albania. The delivery started on Tuesday, May 4, and it was concluded on Friday. The journey of the equipment started back on March 24 at the Port of Jacksonville in Florida. The local U.S. National Guard units were shipping the equipment for three days onto USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR 300) after which, the ship stopped by Portsmouth in Virginia for the final pieces of equipment before heading towards Durres in Albania. In Durres, the smaller vessels took the equipment and finally loaded it to Yuma, and Hurst Point, which brought it to the gem of Northern Dalmatia, Zadar.

„This process is called Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, a method used to ensure swift delivery of supplies and equipment in a variety of port situations“, explained the press release.

U.S. equipment leaves for training area © Sgt. Joshua Oh 

While many would probably stop at Zadar and chill for a lovely holiday, the equipment, however, will continue its journey. Part of the equipment will remain in Croatia, but it will be transferred to Slunj, home of the Main Training Area, and the rest goes to training areas scattered in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). In BiH, the drills and maneuvers for which the equipment will be used are under the umbrella of the linked exercise named "Immediate Response 21” which will culminate in a joint, multinational live-fire demonstration called “Croatian Rampart 1991-2021” at the end of May. Not just as a test of possibility in the „God-forbid-we-are-attacked“ scenario, Croatian Rampart 1991-2021“ also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Croatia Armed Forces.

The Main Training Area in Slunj, Croatia and training areas throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina to be used in drills and maneuvers alongside members of the Croatian Armed Forces, under the umbrella of the linked exercise named "Immediate Response 21.” The exercise culminates in a joint, multinational live-fire demonstration called “Croatian Rampart 1991-2021” - which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Croatian Armed Forces at the end of May.

British Major Dan Cornwell talking to Croatian press, screenshot / Defense Flash News

British Major Dan Cornwell told the Croatian press that the idea of being in Zadar is that Croatian, U.K., and U.S. forces operate together in loading U.S. equipment and personnel.

„We've done this before, on exercise last year in Germany, and I can say, it's a lot better down here in the south, it's absolutely amazing to be here in Croatia to do this alongside Croatian Armed Forces where we can better understand how we operate differently, how we operate similarly and equally building up our interoperability and our ability to operate better in the future“, said Maj. Cornwell, indicating that perhaps he can find Zadar, like many others, as a great holiday destination and not just the line of duty.

Learn more about Zadar on our TC page.

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As Morski writes on the 12th of September, 2019, Zadar Cruise Port (Gaženica) has been officially proclaimed the Port of the Year in 2019 at the most prestigious award ceremony for cruise ports, the Seatrade Cruise Awards 2019, held in Hamburg, Germany.

This is an acknowledgment to the profession that in the category "Port of the Year" between Gaženica, the Norway's OldenLeon and the Japan's Yokohama, Gaženica has made the greatest progress in managing a cruise port in the past year.

''Since Gaženica joined GPH's global network of cruise ports, we've been fully committed to introducing the best port management practices and standards that we have gained through many years of experience. We're very pleased with this award given by the profession because it's a confirmation that all the effort put into this port by Zadar County, the Port Authority of Zadar and GPH has paid off. This award motivates us to continue operating in Zadar and in all of the other ports we managem'' said Emre Sayın, Chairman of the Board of Global Ports Holding.

Rebeka V. Pevec, who worked on the nomination process and was briefed on the procedures required to enter among the three aforementioned finalists, said on this occasion:

''This is a really great success, we're extremely happy and proud that our port was proclaimed the Port of the Year in 2019. Our entire team has received this award with recognition for all their efforts and additional impetus, but also sees it as an obligation to continue their development in the coming period.

Considering the fact that we're the first Croatian passenger port to win this award, this is also an exceptional promotion of the City of Zadar, the Zadar region, and of Croatia. Zadar is a beautiful city and the county has so much to offer. By providing the best possible service to guests and visitors, crews and cruise companies, I'm sure that in addition to the profession, they will all also recognise the progress that Zadar Cruise Port (Gaženica) has made over the past year.

All of our activities are aimed at providing the best possible experience and impression to the guests who visit Zadar and the region. Our goal is also to be recognised as a port and destination for our courtesy, professionalism and security,'' said Pevec.

The award ceremony, organised as part of the largest cruise fair, Seatrade Europe 2019, Zadar and Zadar County were presented by ZIPO and GPH, the Port Authority of Zadar, the tourist boards of both the city and the county, and the airport. It was this cooperation that led Gaženica to the title of Port of the Year, with the aim of attracting even more visitors to Zadar and Zadar County.

''This is a globally relevant recognition of the new Port of Gaženica project. I'd like to thank all those who, throughout the years, have incorporated their ideas, efforts and passion into it, and especially to those who had a vision of the development of Zadar County as an attractive and desirable tourist destination. This is an additional impetus to continue to develop all the potential of the port with excellent infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of restoring the historical significance of the key point of traffic on the eastern side of the Adriatic, and also to make Gaženica an example in terms of the successful intertwining of tourism, transport and environmental protection. In short, it's a port with a vision,'' emphasised Zadar County Prefect Božidar Longin.

''One year after signing the concession agreement, we're harvesting the first major fruits of our cooperation with ZIPO and the global parent company GPH. It turns out that what we announced, that a combination of excellent infrastructure and one of the world's largest port operators is the best possible way to build the recognition of Zadar and Zadar County as a world-class cruise tourism destination.

We now have an even greater obligation to carry out activities that will show that the port in Gaženica is a port with a vision. Our visitors are intertwined in this vision with a pleasant and functional port, with a strong focus on introducing alternative fuels, protecting the climate and building an attractive destination that preserves natural beauty and reveals Croatia's cultural heritage in the most beautiful light,'' said Zadar Port Authority Director Robert Škifić.

The Seatrade Cruise Awards have been awarded to the best in the cruise industry for more than ten years now, with several hundred ports competing each and every year for the title of best port in the world, meaning that Gaženica port's win an enormous gift for Zadar's tourism and local economy, as well as the development of tourism throughout Croatia.

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Gaženica Port (Zadar Cruise Port) is one of the three finalists for the Seatrade Cruise Awards 2019, the Port Authority of Zadar announced.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 23rd of August, 2019, the Port Authority of Zadar has stated that this is great recognition for them, as well as for the concessionaire, Zadar International Port Operations (ZIPO), that is, Global Ports Holding (GPH), which nominated this Dalmatian cruise port for the title of "Port of the Year "which rewards port authorities/cruise companies that have made the most progress in managing cruise ports in the past year.

Ports from anywhere in the world can apply, and this year the finalists and ports are also OldenLoen in Norway and Yokohama in Japan, N1 reports.

On this occasion, the director of the Port Authority of Zadar, Robert Škifić, said: "Right now, in the first year of cooperation with GPH and ZIPO, we're seeing very good results. Entering the finals, where there are only two other ports in the world, says enough about our mutual success. We're convinced that in the coming years this cooperation will be better and better and that the city will soon take the place that belongs to it in the cruise business,''

Rebeka V. Pevec, director of the Zadar International Port Operations company said: "We're very excited to be one of the three finalists for the Seatrade Port of the Year Award in 2019. This is also a recognition of our hard work and the work of Director Škifić and his team in positioning the city as an important destination for cruise trips on the Adriatic sea, increasing the number of passengers in the port, developing the port and providing an even better experience to visitors.''

The winner will be announced on September the 11th, 2019 in Hamburg, Germany, at the largest fair of the Seatrade Europe Cruise Industry 2019. At this fair, Zadar and Zadar County's joint force will be represented and promoted by the city's port authority, ZIPO and GPH, the Zadar and Zadar County Tourist boards, as well as Zadar Airport, too. The goal is to promote this area of Dalmatia through excellent cooperation and to attract even more guests to the best port in the Adriatic, and soon perhaps the best in the entire world.

The Seatrade Cruise Awards have been awarded for over the last ten years to the most outstanding examples and practices within the cruise industry, and this coastal Croatian city known for its Roman and Venetian ruins could soon be added to that prestigious list.

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