The Port of Rijeka Authority is a non-profit institution on a mission to develop the ports of the Republic of Croatia into one of the most vital transit port areas spanning the northern Adriatic, serving key international markets including many in Europe. With these essential markets in mind, the Port Authority implements strategic development projects to enhance the existing massive port offerings. In this process, the Port Authority aims to deliver the country’s port complex as a modern intermodal shipping centre that plays a significant role in international trade, bringing simultaneous economic development for Croatia in the process.
The Port of Rijeka was declared an international economic interest of the Republic of Croatia in 1996, and so the Government of the Republic of Croatia established the Port of Rijeka Authority which today oversees the Sušak, Bakar, Raša in Istria and Omišalj basins on the island of Krk. The goal of the Port Authority is to manage, develop, and build upon the country’s port infrastructures to make it an attractive and interconnected hub that could serve the country and local hinterland. To this day, this underlying goal of development has been maintained across the Port of Rijeka Authority’s work.
However, following the country joining the European Union (EU) in 2013, the port saw massive development opportunities as it then formed part of one of the core transport networks in the EU, the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which comprises railways, inland waterways, shipping routes and interlinking road networks, as well as all inland ports, airports and terminals. In joining this network, the Port of Croatia would have access to a vast network of shipping and logistic lines served by both local and international shipping companies such as COSCO Shipping and Maersk. In April 2024, revisions to the TEN-T expanded the role of the Port of Rijeka area, and it was included in two additional shipping corridors; the Baltic Sea – Adriatic Sea Corridor, and the Western Balkans – Eastern Mediterranean Corridor. With its role in these two new shipping corridors, the Port of Rijeka Authority now has an even more vital role in supporting the TEN-T network, and with it bringing significant trade and shipping opportunities to Croatia’s shores.
With a new vital role at the heart of one of the largest shipping networks in Europe, the Port of Rijeka Authority set out a 2030 Vision, which aimed to preserve the role of its intermodal centres and as the main entry and exit port for Central and Eastern Europe. By 2030, the Port Authority has set its sights on the expansion of the port to improve its existing infrastructure and ensure its port facilities meet the capacity needs that its newfound infrastructure will demand. A key aspect of this will include the development of current hold-up or bottleneck points in port operations, to deliver a more seamless experience across the Port of Rijeka area, In addition, it also aims to develop a new reception area as it looks to expand its facilities to welcome large cruise liners.
The current infrastructure spanning the Port of Rijeka area is vast, with multiple locations, terminals and operations which the Port of Rijeka Authority are responsible for promoting, developing and expanding for the continued development of Croatia’s maritime sector. Currently, the port areas span berths, anchorages, a port control centre, passenger port terminals, the Zagreb Deep Sea Container Terminal, Adriatic Gate Container Terminal, liquid cargo terminal, bulk cargo terminal, grain terminals, the Bakar Goranin RO-RO terminal, and finally a livestock terminal.
Many of these vital aspects were developed by the Port of Rijeka Authority as part of its Rijeka Gateway Project. The project saw the Port Authority work with the Government of the Republic of Croatia in cooperation with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the project outlines one of the most comprehensive revitalisation projects ever carried out across the Rijeka Ports area. The first stage of the project, the Rijeka Gateway Project I and II, saw a guarantee agreement signed between the Republic of Croatia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and a loan agreement signed between the Port of Rijeka Authority, Croatian Roads and Croatian Motorways as the borrower and the IBRD. The first phase of the project came to a total value of 187 million euros, of which 144 million was related to the World Bank loan funds, and 43 million was from the domestic share from the Republic of Croatia budget funds. The project, aimed to not only deliver essential modernisation for the port’s infrastructure but to ensure it could support the Croatian economy by making it more competitive as a hub for trade in international markets.
The Rijeka Gateway Project included the building of a passenger terminal, an extension made to the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal, the implementation of a video surveillance system, the construction of the D-404 state road, redevelopment of the Delta and Porto Baros, and the construction of the new Zagreb Deep Sea Container Terminals. The project highlighted the expansive and necessary development needed to help the port remain competitive, something that remains a key priority as it continues to expand its role across new international shipping lines. The development of the Zagreb Deep Sea Container Terminal was particularly vital, as it was one of the largest capital projects carried out by the Port of Rijeka Authority to vastly increase the port’s ability to handle deep-sea cargo from large vessels travelling along international shipping lines.
Whilst the port’s development is a vital aspect of the Port of Rijeka Authority’s operations, it is just as concerned with ensuring that all operations are carried out following sustainable regulations as set out by Croatian and European laws. This focus on environmental protection and sustainability is a key conversation that has dominated industries worldwide as every company is directing their development towards a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative future. For the Port of Rijeka Authority, this includes an environmental monitoring system to ensure that it can detect the negative impact of port activities on the environment more quickly. By detecting potential threats early, the Port Authority can quickly act, supported by its employees who are constantly being educated on environmental protection across the shipping industry.
What stands out about the Port of Rijeka Authority is that even with such an expansive range of operations under its management spanning all parts of the Rijeka port area, its commitment to development remains a priority. Across every operation, development and partnership, it is looking for the best way to enhance its infrastructure to deliver better results for its customers in the process. In this, it seems to have been largely successful as it now plays a vital role in TEN-T and other various international shipping lines. Thus, throughout every aspect of its operations, the underpinning mission is to position the port area as a modern intermodal hub that will bring significant trade links, and in the process support the Republic of Croatia’s economy in the process.
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