The state-owned Jadrolinija shipping company in 2021 transported 10.5 million passengers and 3.1 million vehicles, which is 15 percent down from 2019 result and 40 percent up from the pandemic year of 2020.

Even though 2021 was good in terms of business results, the company is cautious about its revenue estimate and expects revenue to be lower than in the pre-pandemic years. Losses in 2020 were significant and the decline in the number of passengers and vehicles transported has significantly affected the operator’s revenue and liquidity.

In December 2021 the government granted Jandrolinija support in the amount of HRK 52 million to cover its fixed costs.

Jadrolinija connects Croatian islands to the mainland by operating regular passenger and cargo transport services. The company also operates international routes across the Adriatic Sea to Italy.

The company expects 2022 and the next summer season to continue contributing to the recovery from the pandemic and to help it get closer, in terms of revenue, to the record-breaking year 2019 as well as consolidate its financial and business status.

Strategic goal – fleet development

The company notes that its strategic goal is the development of its fleet and that in recent years four ferries and a catamaran were procured.

Jadrolinija now has 54 vessels, of which 10 are catamarans, four are classic passenger boats, three are ferries for international transport and 37 are ferries for local transport.

The average age of the vessels is 28 years.

The company is investing in new technologies and plans to renew its fleet with vessels running on renewables.

In 2020 the company joined the Maritime Innovation Cluster or the Lürssen Excellence Cluster in response to the development of green technologies for its fleet.

Also planned is digitization of business processes as well as the launching of a new company web site.

In late 2021 Jadrolinija had 1,807 employees, and during the summer season an additional 185 seasonal workers were hired.