The influence of the Port of Gaženica on the development of maritime infrastructure of Zadar County

Zadar County’s strategic importance in transport, particularly in maritime transport, stems from its geographical location in the central part of the Croatian coast. The aim of this study is analyzing how the construction of the port of Gaženica affected the development of the maritime infrastructure, how it affected the increase in the number of passengers and vehicles in maritime transport, as well as its contribution to the development of the economy of Zadar County. The Transport Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia identified the need to reduce traffic congestion in Zadar City Port, leading to the decision to relocate the ferry transport to the new passenger port, Gaženica. The benefits of the relocation have enabled more space in the old City Port for local and international transport, high-speed lines, smaller cruise ships, fishing boats, and tourist boats. What is more, it has led to an increase in maritime transport safety and traffic alleviation in the Old Town. Since the new port is located outside the city centre and has an excellent connection to the airport and the A1 highway, there are many opportunities for intermodal transport, offering great potential for regional development and tourism development. Besides the passenger port, the Port of Gaženica comprises a cargo terminal and a fishing port. The development of the fishing port has certainly resulted in the infrastructure’s improvement aimed at the development of the fishing and fishing industry. The Port of Gaženica has primarily focused on becoming the second-largest passenger port in Croatia, with a clear tendency toward the development of international passenger transport related to cruises. The future of the Port of Gaženica lies in the modernisation of its cargo terminal and the increasing number of port facilities for the reception of international ferry lines.