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The fourth boat, out of a total of six contracted, was delivered as part of the project 'Establishment of an emergency maritime medical service by fast boats', whose holder is the Ministry of Health and in which the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure and the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine participate in partnership.
The goal of the project is to improve access to primary and emergency health care with a focus on remote and deprived areas.
The total value of the project is 10,1 million euros, secured from European funds and the state budget, and so far the boats have been delivered to Zadar, Dubrovnik and Rab. The remaining two will be delivered to Šibenik and Supetar.
"There is no alternative to health, just as there is no alternative to providing help and saving lives", the Minister of Health said on the occasion of the handover Willy Berosh and emphasized that the procurement of boats is an integral part of the reform of the healthcare system, which focuses on the patient.
He emphasized the value of interdepartmental cooperation in such projects and cooperation with other stakeholders such as shipyards.
Numerous lives already saved
In addition to the Minister of Health, the handover was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butkovic, director of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine (HZHM) Maja Grba-Bujevic, head of the Administrative Department for Health of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Vesna Čavar, the mayor of Mali Lošinj Ana Kučić and others.
Butković noted that the entire Croatian Adriatic coast is covered by boats and that many lives have already been saved in its use so far. The director of HZHM followed it up by asserting that fast boats have already justified the investment in the best possible way - by saving human lives - even in unfavorable weather conditions.
In addition to Mali Lošinj, the vessels have already been delivered to the stationary ports in Dubrovnik, Rab and Zadar, and as part of the project Establishing an emergency maritime medical service with fast boats, two more will be built and equipped, which will have their moorings in Šibenik and Supetar on Brač by the end of this year. years.
They can sail even in the most difficult conditions
The boats are equipped with medical equipment and accessories as well as emergency medical service vehicles, and they can sail even in the most difficult conditions at sea, such as a storm with waves of up to six meters. They are available for emergency medical interventions 24 hours a day, and in case of need, they can also be used for search and rescue activities at sea.
"Only the boats that are intended for the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County are worth 3,37 million euros, and if you add up all the investments that the Ministry allocates for PGŽ and for other institutions and projects, along with decentralized funds, the amount is 48 million euros, which makes a significant contribution to the quality of life of the island area or island archipelago belonging to the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. With the new fast boat of the emergency maritime medical service on Mali Lošinj, our fleet is getting the fourth of six fast boats as part of a project with a total value of 10,1 million euros secured from European grants funds and the state budget", stated Minister Beroš.
Minister Butković pointed out that this investment is a very good way of using available European money.
"The entire Croatian Adriatic coast is covered with these boats, and many lives have already been saved in their use. The Government has confirmed the purchase of 15 new vessels for the Port Authority, and the plan is to acquire 2026 new boats for the needs of the Port Authority by 40.", said Butkovic.
Director of Iskra Shipyard, Roko Vuletic, in which all six boats are being built, said that the default competition speed was 35 knots, and on the test run it reached 42 knots.
In addition, he believes that this project opens up the shipyard export possibilities considering that they have so far received three inquiries for the construction of similar vessels.
Photo: Ministry of Health
Source: Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, Safua
