July the 29th, 2024 – Vira Port has been seeing considerable growth as more and more passengers begin utilising it.
As Morski writes, with the aim of reducing an increasingly heavy passenger load and ensuring overall safety and security in the Port of Hvar, Vira Port has come into its own. Back at the beginning of May, the Port Authority of Split-Dalmatia County in cooperation with the Split-Dalmatia County and Hvar Town initiated and enabled the transfer of part of catamaran lines to Vira Port. This port is situated approximately four kilometres northwest of Hvar Town.
Maritime traffic has returned to vira port as a former ferry port after 30+ years
As such, following the preparatory arrangement of the breakwater and the expansion of the pier, from the end of May, public maritime traffic has been returned to the former ferry port after more than thirty years.
All three shipping companies that maintain seasonal catamaran lines operating along the Split – Hvar line have received the obligation to transfer one of their lines to Vira Port. Assistance has been being provided by the Hvar Nautical Centre, along with organised bus transportation from the bus stop in Dolac on Hvar, which is included in the ticket price.
Although in the first weeks of it being in function, the number of passengers choosing the new route has more than likely remained lower than the number of people choosing direct lines to Hvar, it is expected that the introduction of new lines will justify the investment. This is especially true since the arrangement of the port infrastructure has ensured the possibility of using Vira Port for catamarans even during the off-season.
Opening up this port for ferries after 30 long years of no such traffic has plenty of benefits to it. In addition to providing much needed relief to the Port of Hvar in the height of the summer tourist season, the number of interruptions in maritime traffic lines due to bad weather during the winter months will also decrease. This is the case given that the Port of Hvar is more strongly exposed to the elements and more extreme weather issues than Vira Port is.
