ISKRA Shipyard to Build New Firefighting Vessel for Zadar County

ISKRA Shipyard has signed a contract with the Firefighting Association of Zadar County for the construction and delivery of a new specialized firefighting vessel. The 15-metre vessel will strengthen emergency response capabilities across the islands, ports and coastal areas of Zadar County.

ISKRA Shipyard has signed a contract with the Firefighting Association of Zadar County for the construction and delivery of a new firefighting vessel designed specifically for emergency operations at sea.

The contract was signed by Roko Vuletić, President of the Management Board of ISKRA Shipyard, and Željko Šoša, President of the Firefighting Association of Zadar County.

The total value of the contract is €2,243,750 including VAT, with the vessel scheduled to be built and delivered within 12 months.

The project is being implemented as part of the EU-funded programme “RESILIENT ARCHIPELAGO: Development and Enhancement of the Resilience of the Island Area of Zadar County”, aimed at strengthening the resilience and emergency response capabilities of the region.

Designed for firefighting and emergency response

The new vessel will be purpose-built to support firefighters and emergency services operating in one of Croatia's most geographically complex maritime areas.

It will be used for:

• transporting firefighters to the site of a fire;
• firefighting on vessels;
• firefighting along the mainland and island coastline;
• responding to emergencies in ports and coastal areas; and
• transporting injured persons.

With a maximum speed of 27 knots and a cruising range of 150 nautical miles, the vessel will provide emergency teams with the speed and operational range required to respond effectively across the Zadar archipelago.

A proven concept, adapted for firefighting

The new vessel represents a further development of a proven vessel concept previously implemented by ISKRA Shipyard through its SAR (Search and Rescue) vessel programme.

Building on experience gained from these vessels, the new firefighting boat will incorporate the high standards of safety, reliability and operational efficiency required for professional emergency and rescue services.

The design has again been entrusted to Metal Shark's Croatian branch, continuing the successful cooperation between the two companies on previous specialized vessel projects.

While based on an established concept, the new vessel will be specifically adapted to the operational requirements of firefighting interventions at sea, including operations around islands, ports and coastal areas.

Strengthening maritime safety in Zadar County

The Zadar County area includes one of the most extensive and geographically dispersed archipelagos in Croatia. This creates specific challenges for emergency services, particularly when rapid access to islands and remote coastal locations is required.

The new firefighting vessel will provide an additional operational capability for the regional firefighting and civil protection system, helping emergency teams respond more quickly and effectively when lives, property or the marine environment are at risk.

As Željko Šoša, President of the Firefighting Association of Zadar County, emphasized, the vessel will support firefighting operations on islands, in ports and along the coastline, while strengthening the capabilities of the civil protection and firefighting system across the region.

Supporting Croatian shipbuilding and local expertise

The project is also an important contribution to the development of the Croatian maritime industry.

During construction, Croatian partners and specialists will be involved in the project, supporting the development of local expertise and contributing to the preservation of high-value jobs within the maritime sector.

For ISKRA Shipyard, the project further demonstrates the company's capabilities in the development and construction of specialized work, rescue and emergency-response vessels.

“We are particularly proud that ISKRA has been selected to realize this project. The vessel is based on the successful SAR platform already delivered to the Ministry of Health and harbour master's offices, while being further adapted to the specific requirements of firefighting interventions at sea,” said Roko Vuletić, President of the Management Board of ISKRA Shipyard.

The project represents another step in strengthening ISKRA Shipyard's position in the specialized vessel segment and contributing to the continued development of Croatian shipbuilding expertise and maritime safety.

 

Technical characteristics
 

A vessel built for a clear purpose

With the construction of this new firefighting vessel, ISKRA Shipyard continues to apply its shipbuilding expertise to projects where reliability, performance and safety are essential.

The vessel will provide the Firefighting Association of Zadar County with a specialized platform capable of supporting firefighters and emergency services across the region — helping protect people, property and the marine environment.

Construction is expected to be completed and the vessel delivered within 12 months.