SPLIT, Sept 8 (Hina) - Croatia's biggest shipping company Jadrolinija will in the next three years write off ten of its old ships and construct ten new ones in Croatian Adriatic shipyards, Maritime Affairs, Transport and
Communications Minister Alojz Tusek and Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said Friday presenting the construction of commercial vessels in Split, organised for representatives of all shipyards and reporters.
SPLIT, Sept 8 (Hina) - Croatia's biggest shipping company
Jadrolinija will in the next three years write off ten of its old
ships and construct ten new ones in Croatian Adriatic shipyards,
Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications Minister Alojz
Tusek and Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said Friday presenting
the construction of commercial vessels in Split, organised for
representatives of all shipyards and reporters. #L#
The value of the ten new ships is a billion kuna (US$119 million) and
will be completed by the year 2003.
Jadrolinija must renew its fleet, for its vessels are more than 40
years old.
This project must receive a green light from the Government, in
which we do not doubt, and we are convinced the Government will
issue guarantees for their construction.
All the planned vessels are primarily to be used to connect the
mainland with islands and islands among themselves, Tusek said.
In the second phase of Jadrolinija's project bigger ferries for
along-the-coast sailing will be constructed, and the third would
involve so-called floating hotels.
Fizulic stressed offers with precise deadlines and prices are
expected to be submitted by Croatian shipyards over the next few
days.
The state budget, Fizulic said, would not be burdened with the
construction of the first 10 new ships for Jadrolinija. Subsidies
of only nine per cent are expected in the first three years of the
project. The project on the construction of ten new ships in the
following three years should be financed exclusively through
loans, with Government guarantees.
Only from the start of 2004 until 2013 the Government should finance
the construction of new vessels, with a total of US$15 million
annually.
The ships, Tusek and Fizulic said, would most probably be
constructed in the Kraljevica, Treci maj, Brodosplit and
Brodotrogir shipyards.
The Pula-based Uljanik shipyard would not be considered in the
arrangement due to its full capacities being engaged in projects
for the next several years.
(hina) lml