Croatia’s coast to see development of hybrid energy-based floating dock

A construction contract for a hybrid floating dock at the Iskra Shipyard in the Croatian town of Šibenik has been signed under what is claimed to be the “largest investment plan” for the sector in the region.

As disclosed, the €30 million (around $34.5 million) agreement regarding the building of the floating dock was signed in Varna, Bulgaria, by Roko Vuletić, who is the Chief Operating Officer of the yard, and Danail Slavov, the General Director of TEREM – Shipyard Flotski Arsenal – Varna, on November 13.

The Bulgarian company will be in charge of the construction process, while the project itself was conceptualized by the Türkiye-based company Norden Shipdesign House, the parties have shared.

The contract was unveiled by the Šibenik yard following the Croatian government’s recent extension of its maritime concession, which is to last until 2054.

As informed, the floating dock will boast an overall length of 115 meters, an outer width of 32.4 meters, an inner width of 26.4 meters, and a maximum draft of 11.4 meters. It is set to bear a 4,000-ton capacity.

According to officials from the Iskra Shipyard, the contract represents a ‘big step’ in the company’s efforts to continue turning the Šibenik location into an environmentally friendly shipbuilding and repair center, particularly due to its modular structure, hybrid energy system and a focus on operational efficiency.

The beginning of the hybrid dock construction is said to have been check-marked for early 2026, with commissioning anticipated for the spring of 2027.

Once operational, the dock will reportedly allow the Iskra Shipyard to cover a segment it previously did not have, i.e., overhauling almost all vessels of the Croatian maritime transport player Jadrolinija and building, among other things, yachts longer than 70 meters as well as new corvettes for the country’s Navy.

The floating dock is also hoped to become an important element in the future development of shipbuilding and repair capacities that would allow for an expansion to an even wider range of vessel types.

In the face of increasingly strict environmental regulations, Croatian maritime companies and organizations have poured more and more efforts into decarbonization-oriented initiatives, applying, for instance, digital tools to optimize shipping routes, and supporting sustainable maritime activities like coastal tourism and offshore renewables.

The country has endeavored not only to align its maritime sector with mandates like the FuelEU Maritime, but has also set up projects like the GUTTA initiative, aimed at optimizing ferry routes in the Adriatic Sea—specifically, between Croatia and Italy—to lower the carbon footprint.

In addition to this, Croatia has also committed to implementing shore power to reduce air pollution, especially in ports covered under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).