The construction of a EUR 235 million seaport in the city of Zadar officially began on Monday, and the construction work was inaugurated by the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Bozidar Kalmeta.

The construction of the Gazenica port, which will have 250,000 square metres in area, will be carried out in three stages until 2013.

The new facility will have a total of 12 piers, three of them for international lines, three for ro-ro ships an cruisers, and six for other vessels. It will also include a fishing port, a passenger terminal, a parking lot and other services.

The project will be financed with loans with government collateral; a EUR 120 million loan has been granted by the German KfW development bank, and a EUR 100 million loan has been granted by the European Investment Bank.

The first stage of the project, which envisages the construction of an embankment and a secondary breakwater, will be carried out by the German companies Strabag and Josef Moebius. This will cost some EUR 43.4 million.

Once the new port is built, maritime transport will be moved from the centre of Zadar. Speakers at today's ceremony said that the Gazenica port would employ a thousand workers.

Source: Hina