After a long period of negotiations, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the company Kermas Istra d.o.o. signed a concession contract for the area Sv. Katarina – Monumenti in Pula. The contract was signed back in April, and the company owned by Danko Končar intends to build a new marina on the island of St. Katarina.
However, construction work hasn’t yet started due to a sunk ship ‘Moira’ that’s located next to the island, and the ship’s owner cannot remove it because his company has declared bankruptcy.
The problems don’t stop there, as one of the abandoned buildings on the island is inhabited by a resident living there illegally, and there’s also a number of boats stranded on the shore that haven’t yet been claimed and removed by their owners. The future construction site thus remains blocked, and Končar’s company can’t take over even though all relevant institutions have agreed that should happen as soon as possible.
“We tried to take over the object three times already, but the problems haven’t yet been solved. The takeover commission is composed of individuals from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and other members named by the investor”, said Barbara Peruško of Coin Inženjering, a company representing investor Danko Končar.
“The sunk ship is owned by a bankrupt company, and the company’s liquidator needs to carry out the official procedure in order for it to be raised from the sea. Mr. Končar offered financial help in order to speed up the process, but the procedure is slow, explained Peruško. We employed a construction company and we have an issue now – how to keep them. The biggest problem is that we’re losing a whole year by postponing the construction, as the marina won’t be finished in time. We have the Ministry’s support, as well as that of Pula’s mayor, but we’re in a trap we need to get out from as soon as possible”, added Peruško.
(Position of St. Katarina island in relation to Pula)
Translation of excerpts from Glas Istre.
