Gorana Jelić Mrčelić

Integration Sea and River Ports – the Challenge of the Croatian Transport System for the 21st Century

This paper discusses the indicators of development possibilities for sea ports of national importance which are opened for public traffic: Rijeka, Ploce, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, as well as for inland water ports: Vukovar, Osijek, Slavonski Brod and Sisak. Development of traffic and logistic integration processes have been proposed for Croatian sea and river ports, based upon development factors analyses. Croatian sea ports Rijeka, Ploce and inland water cargo ports Osijek, Vukovar, Slavonski Brod and Sisak have been analysed as delivery/forwarding points (nodes), taking into account the directions of goods flows, the participation in the traffic of goods, and all other relevant indicators. The integrated and coordinated approach to the ports and other subjects in the logistic chain redirects the traffic from roads to railways and inland waterways as energy efficient and environmentally – friendly forms of transportation, increases business rationality and optimal organisation users and transportation entities.