PM announces amendments and budgetary funds for maritime sector

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told a conference on maritime and inland navigation on Wednesday that a law on port authorities, maritime domain and seaports and amendments to the Maritime Code were underway, adding that this, along with HRK 850 million should promote the maritime sector and navigation security.

Plenkovic said Croatia was an Adriatic and a Danube country and that the maritime economy could be one of the impetuses of the economic growth.

Speaking of the crisis that shipping companies had gone through, Plenkovic said it was important to enable the accessibility of quality financial instruments which would help renew and give an investment impetus to the sector, adding that the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) could play an important role in that.

The PM said the strategic objective was to increase the fleet sailing under the Croatian flag and attract shipping companies, without compromising security and quality of the fleet.

Amendments to the legislation which will regulate the status of seamen, their pension and health insurance and their accelerated pension plan are very important for competitiveness, the prime minister said.

Plenkovic also said that the state had secured a total of HRK 315 million in subsidies for unprofitable ferry lines, adding that it would be good for Jadrolinija to start renewing its fleet.

The event was also addressed by Maritime, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butkovic.

Text: Hina

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