After activating the fastest connection between Italy and Croatia (4 hours) at the beginning of July, with the route between Zadar and Ancona, Jadrolinija, the largest Croatian passenger sea transport company, aims to expand the fleet. The group’s projects, controlled by the Republic of Croatia, are explained by CEO Robert Blažinović. “Fleet renewal,” he emphasizes, “is one of Jadrolinija’s strategic priorities. Our long-term plans include significant investments, including the potential acquisition of up to 10 ships, with an estimated total value of around 200 million euros. These plans will be implemented gradually, in line with business needs and market conditions evolution.”
Read more Attack in Moscow at Italian restaurant: at least five dead. Russian raids continue in the region …
Currently, the company operates a fleet composed of 57 vessels: 39 ferries used on domestic routes, 13 high-speed catamarans for passenger transport (including the one used on the Zadar-Ancona route), four conventional passenger ships, and a ferry mainly dedicated to international connections. “In 2024,” Blažinović recalls, “Jadrolinija introduced Dalmacija, the largest ship in its fleet, now used on international connections between Split and Ancona, Split and Bari, and Dubrovnik and Bari. At the same time, the ferry Marko Polo, traditionally assigned to international routes, was reallocated to strengthen domestic connections with the more remote Croatian islands, where greater transport capacity was needed.”
Jelena, catamaran with 400 passengers
This,” he continues, “gave us the opportunity to rethink the most effective way to connect the Zadar region to Italy. We firmly believe that this route is of strategic importance, not only for tourism but also for trade exchanges, economic relations, and, more generally, for connectivity between the two shores of the Adriatic.” The fast Ancona-Zadar connection is operated by the catamaran Jelena (launched in 2018), which has a capacity of about 400 passengers; the service includes five weekly departures and will be operational until August 30. The route “offers Italian travelers direct access to Zadar, central Dalmatia, and the Croatian islands, while allowing Croatian passengers to comfortably reach the Marche region and central Italy.”
Read more From helicopters to snowmobiles: rates for unjustified rescues arrive
Jelena, the CEO continues, “is a modern and reliable unit, particularly suitable for operating on that route. However, our long-term vision goes far beyond this single connection: the company’s development plan includes a broader fleet modernization program, which will involve different types of ships. We are working, together with international financial institutions, to identify financing opportunities, while some of the planned projects will be carried out through our own resources. At the same time, international routes continue to represent an important component of our commercial development: the introduction of Dalmacija, now the flagship of the fleet, has helped raise the quality of service on international connections. Our short-term investment priority remains the renewal of the fleet used on domestic connections. However, the growing demand recorded on international routes certainly makes us favorable to seize new opportunities to strengthen this segment.”
Almost 2,000 employees
At the end of 2025, Jadrolinija had 1,995 employees, almost three-quarters of whom belong to maritime personnel. As mentioned, the company is entirely controlled by the Republic of Croatia but, Blažinović emphasizes, despite public ownership, it operates within a fully liberalized maritime transport market since 2013, in line with European Union regulations. Although commercial routes are open to competition, many domestic connections, for passengers and ferries, operate under public service obligation contracts. These routes are awarded through public tenders and aim to guarantee island communities regular, safe, and accessible connections throughout the year, regardless of seasonal demand variations.”
Read more Jindal confirms the agreement for the former Ilva to the Chamber: «Ready to purchase»
