Primorsko-Goranska County plans to increase capacity by 2,800 moorings by the end of 2029 compared to 2025, a move intended to alleviate the long-standing shortage of boat spaces. The investment plan was presented by the county governor, Ivica Lukanović, with data released at a conference on 12 October showing 7,120 applications for municipal moorings.
As a single individual can request a mooring in multiple locations, consolidating the records reveals an estimated 3,260 people waiting for a mooring. The greatest pressure is felt in the areas of Bak, Krk, and Kostrena, as well as the Crikvenica Riviera.
Eight county port authorities manage 102 ports open to public traffic, which currently offer 10,499 municipal moorings. A joint waiting list for all authorities is expected to become publicly available soon.
The head of the department, Izabela Linčić, stated that six major European projects are currently in progress or procurement, valued at nearly €67 million, and will provide 492 new municipal moorings. Works are underway in Martinšć, Krk, Novo Vinodolsko, and Rab, while Ika and Omis are in the public procurement process.
Seven projects with a combined value of approximately €76 million have been prepared for the next funding cycle. Among them are projects in Žrno, with 270 new moorings planned, and Črni Mul, with 123. Projects in areas protected by nature are also being considered, with an additional 240 moorings potentially accommodated in the Bak Bay area, subject to necessary spatial planning adjustments.
Projects in Bak, Jadrjanovo, and the Poljana-Runjica basin in Mali Lošinj are being prepared for 2027, with €4.3 million allocated to renovate 381 existing moorings and secure 187 new ones. The county plan foresees growth from 10,192 moorings in 2025 to 12,992 by the end of 2029, with the goal of addressing 70 per cent of current demand. This refers to planned capacities, the realisation of which will depend on the implementation of individual projects and the securing of funding.
The issue of concessions in the Mort channel has also been raised. According to the head of the department, the current scope includes the marine part, without the land space required for pulling boats out and the crane. The county received a new initiative from the city of Rijeka in late August, proposing different solutions without additional land. The city of Rijeka has been asked to provide an opinion on compliance with the spatial plan. Only after the response will the next steps be clear.
