Croatian Port Days '26

About the Conference

Zadar, Hotel Hyatt Regency 25.-28.03.2026.

“Croatian Port Days 2026” is a national conference that brings together representatives of Croatian port authorities, experts from the maritime sector, decision-makers and investors.

The host of the second edition is the Zadar Port Authority.

The main goal of the conference is to promote the importance of Croatian ports for the national and regional economy, present innovations and new projects in the port industry, and create a platform for knowledge and experience exchange among participants.

The conference will last for two days and will include a series of panels, presentations, and discussions, with an emphasis on the future development and modernization of Croatian ports. The participation of domestic and international experts from the sector, as well as potential investors and business partners, are expected.

The official language of the conference is Croatian, with simultaneous interpretation into English.

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Strategic focus set by the Zadar Port Authority

Conference Goals

In accordance with the organizers’ guidelines, the conference content is designed to encompass all key aspects of the development of Croatian ports, with special emphasis on:

  • development and modernization of port infrastructure
  • green transition, renewable energy sources and sustainability
  • digitalization and smart ports
  • investments and EU funds
  • maritime safety

Target Audience

The goal of Croatian Port Days is to bring together key stakeholders from the port infrastructure and maritime economy sectors. The target audience includes:

The target audience includes:

  • Representatives of port authorities
  • Government officials and decision-makers
  • Experts from the maritime and transport sectors
  • Investors and businesses related to port infrastructure
  • The academic community and students in the field of maritime studies
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Program

The conference is designed as a platform that brings together key development processes of Croatian ports, and based on the guidelines of the Zadar Port Authority, the following topics were additionally focused on:

  • Integration of Croatian ports into international cruising flows
    trends, terminal management, arrival optimization, sustainability, cooperation with cities and the tourism sector.
  • OPAS systems (Operational Planning Systems in Ports)
    implementation, interoperability, digitization and optimization of operational processes.
  • Cyber ​​security in ports and the maritime sector
    protection of information systems, digital platforms, security protocols, EU regulations.
  • Destination management
    integration of ports and destinations, visitor management, capacity alignment, sustainable approach to developing ports as entry points to destinations.
Program

Conference Topics

The conference will cover a wide range of topics and thus encompass all relevant stakeholders in the Croatian maritime sector.

1

Cruise ships and the cruising industry

  • Trends in the cruising sector and expected changes until 2030.
  • The role of ports in managing large passenger traffic.
  • Coordination with cities due to seasonality and pressure on destinations.
  • Examples of good practice and models of sustainable management of ship arrivals.
  • Integration with destination management and passenger acceptance protocol.

2

OPAS systems – implementation and operational management models

  • Standardization of OPAS systems in Croatian ports.
  • Integration with national information platforms.
  • Optimization of port operations through digital systems.
  • Data exchange between operators, port authorities and agencies.
  • Digital transformation of traffic planning and management.

3

Cybersecurity in ports

  • Threats and risks to IT and OT systems in the maritime sector.
  • EU regulations: NIS2, security protocols, mandatory practices.
  • Protection of critical infrastructure and digital platforms.
  • Incident management and crisis communication.
  • Cooperation between ports, government bodies and security agencies.

4

Destination management

  • Port as an entry point to a destination – integrated management policy.
  • Cooperation of ports with tourist boards and local governments.
  • Visitor flow management (especially for cruise ships).
  • Balancing economic impact and quality of life for local residents.
  • Development of products and experiences that connect the port with the city and the region.
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