ZAGREB, March 10, 2020 – Opatija is hosting a two-day maritime conference as part of Croatia’s presidency of the Council of the EU at which participants are discussing digitisation, safety, environmental protection and boosting the status of maritime careers.
Speaking of health challenges, European Maritime Safety Agency director Maja Markovčić Kostelac said a special recommendation was made, as part of the International Maritime Organization and health institutions, that applied to ships of all countries.
The European Commission has issued a similar recommendation and the situation is under control for now, she added.
The state secretary at the Sea and Transport Ministry, Josip Bilaver, said the latest challenge in the maritime industry was how to respond to the coronavirus crisis.
Asked about prevention measures, he said the ministry was following and participating in the work of the national civil protection authority. “Our ports, Ploče, Zadar, Split and Rijeka, are in sensitive regions, so we communicate with the port authorities on a daily basis.”
Asked if the Jadrolinija shipping company would suspend its route to Ancona, Italy, its CEO David Sopta said that for now it would not but that it would if necessary. He added Jadrolinija seafarers were equipped with masks, gloves and disinfectants.
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