The Viability of Short-Sea Shipping in Croatia

This paper analyzes the advantages of short-sea shipping (SSS) in Croatia as well as the environmental concerns related to shipping in general and short-sea shipping in particular. A comprehensive strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) study was undertaken with regard to the strategy of SSS development in Croatia. The study shows that strengths and opportunities largely diminish the significance of weaknesses and threats, provided that the emphasis in policy-making is placed on wider public, economic and environmental interests, as well as on the internalization of external costs. The impetus for conducting this study comes from new regulations within MARPOL Annex VI, oriented towards the reduction of GHG emission. They encourage the application of new technologies in existing ships as well as the development of new vessels that are able to fulfill new ecological demands. The a authors believe that with its long-lasting high-quality shipbuilding tradition and prestigious maritime education institutions, Croatia can respond to the need to protect its environment. A concept of a ship that meets these new criteria is proposed. The ship is intended for shuttling people and goods between local coastal communities in an environmentally friendly and socially and economically relevant way. The example demonstrates that what had at one time been considered as being remote future in SSS became a reality and a topic of great interest and importance