The Croatian government on Wednesday approved a €68.1 million state guarantee for a ship to be built by the Brodosplit shipyard based in the Adriatic city of Split.

The guarantee is for a polar cruise ship which was ordered last year by Polaris Exploration Inc, a company owned by the Brodosplit-Plovidba group, for €106.4 million.

The shipyard – best known for making oil tankers and bulk carriers – is an important step in company’s plans to enter the polar cruisers niche market, after it had already built a smaller ship of the same type.

In explaining the decision, Finance Minister Zdravko Maric said in a government session on Wednesday that the project would contribute to the better use of shipyard’s manufacturing capacities, and add new jobs.

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