October the 27th, 2021 - Croatian smart islands are set to have something new, with as many as 21 autonomous, solar-powered catamarans set to connect them to the mainland.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Darko Bicak writes, the Republic of Croatia is very much a ''maritime country'' and ships, mostly ferries and catamarans, are often the only connection to civilisation for tens of thousands of inhabitants on 47 of the nation's inhabited islands. That's why efficient and ecological shipping is of strategic importance for the country. Part of the solution could be a system of autonomous electric ships, the proposal of which was presented very recently in Zagreb.

At the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FSB), the initiative "Autonomous electric ships for smart islands and cities" was signed with the aim of developing modern shipping, using a zero emission rate, relying exclusively on "green" fuels.

At the FSB, they point out that technologically advanced propulsion on ships is accompanied by partial or complete autonomy, where the safety aspects of passenger transport come first, and autonomous docking is the first development step.

The initiative envisages the development and construction of 21 passenger ships with a capacity of 100 to 300 passengers, which will be built in three sizes, and one of each model will be located throughout the Croatian Adriatic as part of a pilot project to test the possibilities of individual destinations. A total of seven destinations will be selected on the basis of joint deliberations with the competent authorities and the aim will be to connect Croatian smart islands in a far better way.

These modern green vessels will be for the benefit of both residents and tourists

The development of this fleet of electric ships is accompanied by requirements for the development of energy infrastructure for the supply of ships with electricity. The project also envisages the development of charging stations with battery tanks and solar power plants for green electricity generation.

By connecting to the energy infrastructure, the battery tanks of ship charging stations will contribute to the development of Croatian smart islands and cities as part of a system of "smart" networks that will enable the storage and delivery of the said electricity.

As explained by Tomislav Uroda, the director of the company "iCat - integrator and shipbuilder" on whose ships electric propulsion and autonomous navigation will be tested, based on the existing iCat model, they'll develop a passenger ship project and ship management and control system based on advanced methods and artificial intelligence (AI).

"Ship monitoring and control, a robotic system for replenishing the ship's energy tanks, and a system of high-power smart charging stations that use energy from renewable sources are the backbone of the development and application of modern technical solutions in maritime transport.

In order to significantly improve the lives of islanders and residents in coastal cities, as well as the many tourists who visit these areas, with this initiative, Croatia has a unique opportunity to contribute to the implementation of green and digital transition through the National Recovery and Resilience Programme and other EU funds. Rich in renewable energy sources, Croatian smart islands can lead the energy transition to a completely carbon-neutral economy in 2050,'' said Uroda.

Power plants on the islands of Vis, Cres…

Croatian islands don't have larger plants that use energy from fossil fuels, and there are more and more and more construction projects for plants that use green, renewable sources, such as solar power plants on islands such as Vis, Cres, Unije and elsewhere.

Given the above, the decarbonisation in electricity consumption and production will be implemented quickly, and the transport and connection of Croatian smart islands is an essential item that depends on fossil fuels.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section.

April the 19th, 2021 - Several years ago, Jadrolinija's management board decided to stop financing the old Dubrovnik-Rijeka line which ran in summer and it was dropped. Should it be returned?

As Jurica Gaspar/Morski writes, the Rijeka-Dubrovnik ferry line was considered unprofitable and was dropped, this decision of Jadrolinija's management put an end to the very long tradition of connecting the northern and extreme southern part of the Croatian Adriatic was unpopular with many.

Although back in 2016 the Croatian Government made a decision to reintroduce the so-called coastal "blue highway" for the whole year, after the sale of the Liburnija vessel, the former president of the board of Jadrolinija stated that the company doesn't even have a ship to sail on that line any more.

However, more and more people are becoming irritated by that decision, because many would have gladly chosen to travel along the Croatian coast by boat rather than by land.

''The only night Dubrovnik-Rijeka line which ran overnight was shut down without any explanation. It's necessary to return this line this season, which connects Kvarner with Dalmatia and vice versa, by ship, for at least three months,'' stated Tomislav Pavleka, who launched a public petition for this initiative, and explained:

''The boat was full every summer. If it's necessary to increase the price of the tickets, issue a concession for a deck restaurant to someone, establish a ship's jazz orchestra that would play under the stars, do anything to improve the offer of long-distance transport of passengers, motorcycles, bicycles, dogs, cars... then it should be done. Croatia must have one such coastal line,'' he said in his explanation of the aforementioned petition to return the Dubrovnik-Rijeka line.

The Dubrovnik-based initiative Srdj je Grad (Mount Srdj is the City) is also advocating for the return of the coastal ferry line which once connected Rijeka with the island of Korcula and then the City of Dubrovnik.

''In a situation when the number of rotations in air traffic is very uncertain and when we don't even know when charters and low-cost airlines will start flying again, it would be necessary to launch an initiative that can open up a new traffic route for tourists to the extreme south of Croatia. Everyone knows that Dubrovnik and its surroundings are a distinct air destination and that we depend on airlines flying down here. This is what has made us the most vulnerable during these challenging times, when the global economy is establishing new principles of functioning,'' they stated.

The holiday begins aboard the ship

Let's remember that Jadrolinija once had a very successful slogan for the Dubrovnik-Rijeka line ''The holiday begins aboard the ship'' which sailed to destinations on Korcula, Peljesac, Mljet and the Dubrovnik Riviera. With the introduction of subsidies on return tickets with discounts for longer stays at the destination (for example, 30 percent cheaper tickets for stays of five days and longer), high quality promotion and high security/safety standards when boarding at ports, we'd ensure the arrival of 2 -3 thousand guests a week in that southern Croatian county.

If we design a promotional tourist package with accommodation service providers that would make every fifth day a tourist spends in their destination free of charge, we would offer them a related service of subsidised boat tickets and additional overnight stays, which would extend guests' stays within their respective destinations and as such achieve higher consumption,'' they suggest from the aforementioned Dubrovnik initiative.

For more on maritime travel in 2021, make sure to check out our dedicated section.