VR LOGER - stories of the virtual deck of the Nerezinac logger in Mali Lošinj

Interpretive navigation center of the maritime heritage of the island of Lošinj LOŠINJ LOGER "NEREZINAC" – An open-air museum, renovated according to the model of the Lošinj loggers from the end of the 19th century. The wooden motor ship "Dražica" (after the renovation it was renamed "Nerezinac") is a valuable example of traditional shipbuilding, and since 2010 it has been on the list of protected cultural assets of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia.

Moored on the Lošinj Captains' Quay in Mali Lošinj, in front of the Apoxyomena Museum, it displays and interprets the long and rich maritime tradition of Lošinj in a modern, interesting and interactive way. The installation itself consists of a part placed on the quay in front of the ship, a part on the ship's deck and a part placed inside the ship in the lower deck (former warehouse - read). The multimedia display in the lower deck shows life on the ship through five characteristic thematic units: crew, food, cargo, maritime routes, and construction and maintenance of the ship.

The display on the shore (quay) and on the deck (envelope) contains an information board with basic information about the ship and a section called the 'workshop' where visitors can try some of the skills of traditional shipbuilding, ship or deck maintenance related to seamanship or ship management: rigging (caulking), patching sails, planing, sanding, driving nails, bending wood (steam), tying sailor's knots, scrubbing the deck (envelopes), blowing the horn, lifting visitors over the pulleys (pulleys), raising the sail, etc.

Five characteristic stories about the crew, the ship, cargo, sea routes and the construction and maintenance of the ship will introduce visitors to the overall experience. In this way, visitors will become a part of the life of the sailors on the cargo ship Loger and sail the sea together with them. They will see the shipyard and the port as it was more than a hundred years ago, learn about the life of sailors, the jobs they performed, shipbuilding, trade and everyday life on the island and at sea. They will reveal details about their diet, hygiene and humorous situations from everyday life, the challenges they faced, worries, but also the happiness of returning to the port.

The virtual tour is available in Croatian and English at a price of 8 euros and lasts thirty minutes. Working hours in August are from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 12 pm and from 19 pm to 22 pm, and in September also from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 12 pm and from 18 pm to 21 pm.

The ship also participates in tourist events where traditional boat regattas are held, and the goal of this project is to bring the rich maritime tradition of Lošinj to all visitors and interested groups in a modern, interesting and interactive way.

This project was co-financed by the Croatian Tourist Board, for the purpose of digitizing cultural heritage.

Cover photo author: Antonio Pavela