Port through history
2019
On March 4th, the procedure of competitive dialogue was initiated by the Port of Rijeka Authority, as an implementing institution at the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia, conducting the procedure of selecting a private partner for the development and operation of the Zagreb Deep Sea Container Terminal.
In March, a celebration was held on 300 years since the proclamation of Rijeka as a free royal port. The entire program included various exhibitions, professional lectures, a conference, a scientific gathering and a round table with art education workshops and a presentation on the historical theme of political-social contexts recalling the Emperor Charles VI’s Decision by which Rijeka was proclaimed as Free royal port in 1719.
2018
In September 2018, the Port of Rijeka Authority’s project called Upgrade of the infrastructure in the Port of Rijeka – Dredging at the AGCT (POR2CORE-AGCT dredging) was approved. The Port of Rijeka Authority had previously submitted the project at the call of the CEF Blending European Fund, under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).The project worth 13,9 million EUR will be carried out by the project coordinator the Port of Rijeka Authority in partnership with the concessionaire at the Brajdica terminal, Adriatic Gate j.s.c. The funds will be used to finance adjustments of the port to increase the capacities and the ability to accommodate larger vessels. The main goal of the project is to remove the bottleneck at the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal, to improve the handling of freight at the terminal and to enable the mooring of larger ships.
In April 2018, the Port of Rijeka Authority signed two grant agreements for development projects funded by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in the amount of 37,60 million EUR. The agreements allow the implementation of a unique modern information port system modelled on European ports and the significant development of the intermodal connection of the Brajdica container terminal, marking the beginning of a large investment cycle for the period up to 2020.
2017
In July 2017 in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Port of Rijeka Authority and the Szczecin and the Swinoujście Seaports Authority was signed under the economic part of the “Three Seas” Initiative summit, which launched the initiative for inclusion of the Port of Rijeka as a core port on the Adriatic-Baltic transport corridor, which will make the largest Croatian port more efficiently integrated into the European transport area.
In the year 2017, the implementation of a total of six development projects of the Port of Rijeka Authority, which was approved for co-financing from the European Connecting Europe Instrument (CEF), began. The value of development projects is EUR 115.76m. The projects are related to the modernization of the railway infrastructure and the construction of new intermodal capacities in the port of Rijeka, the reconstruction of general cargo piers and implementation of the Port Community system. All projects will be implemented in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
List of projects
• Development of the multimodal platform in the Port of Rijeka and connection with the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal (POR2CORE-AGCT) open!
• Upgrade of the infrastructure in the Port of Rijeka – Port Community Information System (POR2CORE-PCS) open!
• Upgrade of the infrastructure in the Port of Rijeka – Zagreb Container Terminal (POR2CORE – ZCT) open!
• Upgrade of the infrastructure in the Port of Rijeka – Basin Rijeka (POR2CORE-Rijeka Basin) open!
• Upgrade of the infrastructure in the Port of Rijeka – Terminal for Bulk Cargo Bakar (POR2CORE-BCTB) open!
• Upgrade of the infrastructure in the Port of Rijeka – Terminal for General Cargo (POR2CORE-GCT) open!
2016
The Port of Rijeka Authority participated in the application for the candidacy of the City of Rijeka for the European Capital of Culture as a project partner. In March 2016, Rijeka was declared the European Capital of Culture for 2020, and the very name “Port of Diversity” speaks in favour of the impact and importance of port development for the immediate community. The Port of Rijeka Authority participates in the project in the programme titled “Sweet & Salt” in cooperation with local partners, namely the Rijeka Architects Association, the Center for Industrial Heritage of the University of Rijeka, civil associations Second Sea and Platform 9,81. The project leader is the Center for Advanced Studies of South East Europe of the University of Rijeka.
2014
In November 2014, works on the construction of the new Zagreb Pier Container Terminal, the most demanding component of the Rijeka Gateway Project, started.
2013
On 1 July 2013, the Republic of Croatia became the 28th member of the European Union. Thus, the Port of Rijeka was included in the main TEN-T European Union network. It assumes the status of the main, core port on the Mediterranean Corridor and there are plans for inclusion into the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor.
In July 2013, a component of the Rijeka Gateway Project was completed. With an investment of about 30 million EUR, terminal extension and increase of the pier depth to 14 meters enabled the servicing of container ships up to 370 meters long with a maximum capacity of 600,000 TEU on the new pier of the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal.
In May 2013, Zhen Hua 20 delivered equipment worth 23 million EUR from Shanghai to the Adriatic Gate Container Terminal. The equipment for container transhipment will make the Port of Rijeka become one of the most competitive ports in the Adriatic.
At the beginning of May 2013, two new LIEBHERR cranes were put into operation at the Orlando Pier, worth five million EUR in total. The Liebherr cranes are technologically adequate for all kinds of general and bulk cargoes, and the common lift capacity reaches 168 tonnes, which significantly increased the operational capacity of Luka Rijeka d.d. in the transhipment of various types of cargo.
2012
The development of the Port of Rijeka as a cruising destination begins. In cooperation with the Kvarner County Tourist Board, the City of Rijeka and the Rijeka Tourist Board, the activities of attracting cruise ships and the organization of reception of cruise ships of all sizes started.
2011
On 15 April 2011, International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) joined the ownership structure of Adriatic Gate j.s.c. as a strategic partner with a concession for 30 years, i.e. up to 2041. Since then, the brand name Adriatic Gate Container Terminal has been used.
2009
Opening of the Passenger Terminal, the biggest of its kind in the Adriatic.
Signing of the Rijeka Gateway II Project – the Port of Rijeka Authority, the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the World Bank signed a contract for the Rijeka Gateway II Project, which will enable the continuation of the construction of port infrastructure initiated through realization of the Rijeka Gateway I Project, enable a more efficient operation of the port system and the opening of Rijeka to the sea. The total value of the Rijeka Gateway II Project amounts to 88 million EUR.
2008
Opening of the plateau of the former coke plant and background warehouses Škrljevo.
A recorded turnover of 170,000 TEU at the Brajdica Container Terminal.
2004
New equipment on the Terminal for bulk cargo in Bakar.
2003
Signed Rijeka Gateway Project.
New equipment on the container terminal.
2002
Omišalj port under the governance of the Port of Rijeka Authority.
1999
Lošinjska plovidba – Brodarstvo d.d., in organization of the Port of Rijeka Authority launched the first Feeder service that marked the beginning of the process of revitalization of container traffic in the Republic of Croatia. The first Feeder service started from the Croatian ports of Rijeka and Ploče for ports in Italy, Serbia & Montenegro and Malta. The first ship that maintained the ro-ro service was called Lipa.
The largest Croatian liner shipping company, Croatia Line, ceased to operate.
1996
By the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Port of Rijeka Authority was established for the management, construction and use of the Port of Rijeka, a port open to international public traffic, which was declared a port of particular international economic interest for the Republic of Croatia due to its size and significance.
1991
During the war of Independence, the Port of Rijeka recorded a sharp drop in traffic and stagnation.
1980
A record traffic amounting to 20,247,000 tonnes of cargo, of which 13,063,000 tonnes refers to liquid cargo, and 5,230,000 tons to bulk cargo. The structure of the cargo changed, so the previously dominant general cargo was replaced by liquid and bulk cargo.
1960 – 1980
The Port of Rijeka develops according to the concept of specialized terminals in the Kvarner Gulf.
Significant spatial increase of the port and quality actions of enhancing the capacity influenced the Port of Rijeka turnover:
– construction of the oil refinery in Urinj in 1965
– construction of the terminal for bulk cargo in Bakar in 1968 and expansion of capacities.
1979
Commissioning of the coke plant in Bakar in 1978.
Commissioning of the oil terminal in Omišalj in 1978.
Commissioning of the container terminal on Brajdica in 1978.
Opening of the port Raša – Bršica for timber handling in 1979.
Commissioning of the oil pipeline in 1978.
Commissioning of the warehouse complex Škrljevo in 1981.
1967 – 1975
Negative impact of the closure of the Suez Canal on the turnover in the Port of Rijeka.
1950
Reconstruction of port capacities – turnover at the Port of Rijeka 2,4 million tonnes.
1941 – 1945
The Port of Rijeka experiences war destruction, and much of the port capacity is destroyed. During the withdrawal from the port, the German Army demolished all berths for reception of ships, the transhipment mechanization and more than 50% of storage capacities.
1924
With the Treaty of Rapallo signed between the Kingdom of Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1924, Italy was granted the annexation of Rijeka. Sušak was annexed to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and thus the Port of Rijeka was divided into two parts and disabled in an attempt to recover the lost markets and cargo.
Within the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes the Sušak Port becomes one of its main ports and although six times smaller than the Rijeka basin, it achieves almost the same turnover as the Port of Rijeka under the Italian administration.
1918
The Port of Rijeka becomes part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
Only 500 000 tonnes of cargo were transhipped through the port.
1914
The years of prosperity for the Port of Rijeka end with the outbreak of the World War I by blockade of the Strait of Otranto and breaking of the trade and maritime traffic with overseas countries.
1913
By the size of its turnover of 2,1 million tonnes, the Port of Rijeka is ranked among the ten largest European ports.
1873
Rijeka is connected to Budapest by rail.
1867
The construction of the large port basin begins when the Austro-Hungarian settlement creates a dual monarchy, and Rijeka becomes the main stop for the exit of the Hungarian economy into the world. With the arrival of Rijeka under the Hungarian administration begins a time of rapid development of the port that will last until the World War I.
1855
First works begin on the construction of a modern port by moving the Rječina estuary to a new riverbed.
1719
Charles VI declared Rijeka and Trieste free ports.
1717
The development of the ports of Rijeka and Trieste as modern ports begins when the Austrian monarch Charles VI proclaimed free navigation in the Adriatic Sea as part of his mercantile policy.