October the 18th, 2023 – Back in October last year, a long-anticipated project commenced: the construction of a state-of-the-art passenger terminal at the Šibenik harbour.
Scheduled for completion next year, the project represents an investment totalling 8.2 million euros. Out of this sum, 4.2 million represents eligible costs, 85% of which is funded by the European Union through the Cohesion Fund, and the remaining amount is covered by the Croatian Government.
A significant transformation occurred a decade ago
In 2013, the Šibenik harbour underwent a significant transformation with the construction of a modern and fully-functional ferry and major cruise ship terminal adjacent to the city’s primary bus terminal and near its historic centre. Despite the city having an expansive waterfront suitable for large vessels, docking for big cruise ships was not possible, forcing them to anchor nearby in the bay and shuttle passengers via smaller boats to and from the city.
One glaring omission from the upgraded Šibenik harbour was a proper waiting facility—a refuge from cold winds, rain during winter and the blistering summer heat. A decade after the initial harbour upgrade, the city is finally addressing this gap with a comprehensive passenger terminal that will feature an array of amenities including a waiting room, ticket office, café bars, restrooms, various administrative offices, and parking spaces. This harbour is also an international border for the EU for vessels.
From empty promises to fruition
For years, this development seemed as if it was actually going nowhere. Political leaders, including Šibenik’s mayor Željko Burić, and various ministers du jour would flock to the harbour in the spring time, promising that construction would begin in the autumn of that year, but the construction never commenced. This cycle repeated itself for years from 2017 until 2022. Yet, the tides have finally turned and construction has been underway since autumn 2022, promising a significant upgrade to the harbour infrastructure.
For the residents of Šibenik’s surrounding islands and all its visitors, this is a monumental development. No longer will they be subjected to the harsh elements while waiting for ferries and ships, improving the quality of life for all those who depend on the Šibenik harbour for their daily commute, and of course for the tourists during the summer months. This was quite an embarrassment to the entire city of Šibenik, and it’s finally being addressed.
Text by Vladimir Niksic
