”Nothing can be replaced by wood, as long as there is wood in the mountain, the ship can last until then”, says Ante Njemac Balin. Ante is ninety years old and the oldest is the Betina caulk, reports HRT News. He says that he also worked abroad in the shipyard of iron ships, but the wooden ones are unrivaled.
And just as an honor and thanks to all Betina shipbuilders, a fair of traditional wooden shipbuilding was organized. As a place to connect all shipbuilders and equipment manufacturers for these wooden beauties, but also the presentation of the entire island heritage.
”There are also our family members, presenting local food and drinks because all this together makes a beautiful tourist product, but it is actually a question of local identity, said Mirela Bilic, marketing manager of the Museum of Betina wooden shipbuilding.
”The education system, awarding concessions to traditional crafts is now up to state institutions and we believe that they are the ones who need to start and stabilize wooden shipbuilding, start the young generation and give them hope that there is a future in wooden shipbuilding, said Marinka Fržop, president of Betinska gajeta 1740.
”There is work, you just need to be creative and look around a little for it, and when it comes to the market, you need to be economical. We’re required to be both traders and craftsmen, and it’s difficult to incorporate that, but the Internet is there today – to make a living,” says Ljubomir Ante Fržop, a Betina traditional wooden shipbuilder.
A handful of events are planned for the three days of the fair – from traditional craft workshops to the regatta of wooden traditional boats, and of this is being done as a kind of ode to Betina, along with Korčula, the most famous and oldest seat of excellent shipbuilders.
For more, check out our lifestyle section.
