Catamaran "Jelena" Reconnects Zadar and Ancona
Jadrolinija's new seasonal line cuts travel time to under four hours, with departures five times a week.
Jadrolinija's new seasonal line cuts travel time to under four hours, with departures five times a week.
Zadar and Ancona are once again linked by a fast ferry service. The legendary "Liburnija" from the 1960s has been replaced by the modern catamaran "Jelena," the newest vessel in Jadrolinija's fleet. A journey that once took hours now takes less than four.
The new seasonal line from Zadar to the Italian port of Ancona departs five times a week. Among the first passengers were those driven by nostalgia, as well as tourists eager for a quicker crossing of the Adriatic. "Now I'm repeating it. I retired after 40 years of work, but back then I was still a student when I went," passenger Glišo Klasnić told HRT, reminiscing about the old days.
On the other hand, Italian tourist Davide highlighted the practical reasons for choosing this particular service. "We chose Jadrolinija's catamaran 'Jelena' for its comfort and speed," Davide told HRT.
On the bridge, we were welcomed by Captain Ivan Vulić, for whom this is his first international line. He described the challenges that come with sailing beyond coastal waters. "There's no big difference since the rules of navigation are the same. Sailing conditions can be demanding both in coastal navigation and in what we're doing now. The only possible difference is that we often expect more challenging seas because we're heading out to the open sea," Captain Vulić told HRT.
The line is also important on the Italian side. Guido Giambuzzi from the agency "Amatori" emphasized the importance of mutual interest for the line's survival. "You need a two-way flow to have a stable and reliable line. So I hope this is a trial season for a long-term project and that we'll see each other again on the catamaran next season," Giambuzzi told HRT.
The historical connection between the two shores dates back centuries. According to HRT, among the builders of Ancona was a native of Zadar, Juraj Dalmatinac, which testifies to the long tradition of two-way flow of people and ideas across the Adriatic.
