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In light of efforts to reduce GHG emissions, liner ship operators in coastal navigation are undertaking numerous activities to contribute to the reduction of fossil fuel consumption during the transitional period toward environmentally friendly propulsion systems without compromising their regular operations. Regular ship overhauls, which include removing fouling from the underwater part of the hull and optimizing propellers, also contribute to this goal and are the focus of this research. The ship propeller, as a key component of the propulsion system, plays a significant role in ensuring reliable, safe, and economical navigation. Proper selection and regular maintenance of the propeller are essential for achieving optimal performance. This paper presents the optimization of a fixed-pitch propeller according to the ISO 484/2 standard to Class I using Metrascan 3D technology. This technology enables a detailed analysis of the propeller geometry, identification of irregularities, correction, and adjustment to achieve better hydrodynamic characteristics. The pitch corrections of the propeller resulted in improved overall vessel performance and fuel consumption, as demonstrated by comparing the consumption before and after the optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European Union, regulations and policies have been established to prevent and manage invasive alien species (IAS). The EU Regulation 1143/2014/EC, commonly known as the IAS Regulation, identifies species that pose significant ecological risks, requiring a coordinated response across all EU Member States. These species are classified as "species of Union concern" based on thorough risk assessments and standardized procedures within the EU. Accordingly, species are included in The List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern (the Union list), which is subject to regular updates through continuous species evaluations. Currently, the majority of the species on this list are terrestrial and freshwater with few marine species represented. The primary aim of this paper is to review the procedure for the inclusion of species in the Union list. The steps for inclusion are outlined by the IAS Regulation and associated legislation, which govern the risk assessment process. In addition, this paper synthesizes available scientific literature and official documents to summarize the impacts of Plotosus lineatus and Rugulopteryx okamurae on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The potential for future updates to the Union list is currently under consideration, and some marine species are within. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every mode of passenger transport plays an important, strategic role in the lives of a country's people, its economy, its global business, and its tourism. In today's competitive world, passenger transport relies heavily on its performance, which in turn is determined by service quality provided to customers. The evaluation of service quality in passenger transport is crucial to ensure acceptable quality standards for users and to improve the services offered to passengers and travelers. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the methods used to evaluate service quality in passenger transport in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, with a particular focus on liner maritime passenger transport. The results show that a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is most frequently used in the selected articles. However, the number of scientific articles dealing with this topic has increased in recent years. This shows the growing interest in analyzing service quality for a particular mode of transport. The majority of articles are assigned to the areas of Transportation, Business and Economics, Science and Technology, Environmental Sciences, etc. Future research should focus on evaluating service quality through the impact of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, including relevant factors, on service quality in passenger transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Port terminals, as the starting and ending points of the technological process in the transport of goods, are also logistic centers for the provision of services of loading/unloading and storage of goods. Improving the process of transporting goods and achieving competitiveness is not possible without quality port service and customer satisfaction with the service provided, and reduction of traffic congestion and environmental pollution within the guards in which the ports are positioned. This scientific research aimed to analyze, using scientific methodology, the factors influencing the assessment of port service quality and intermodality in the Port of Rijeka and to develop a model for port service quality assessment by implementing fuzzy logic. The model was tested by simulation based on the evaluation of the criteria of influential parameters with inaccurate and indeterminate input data. The test results provide an assessment of the quality provided by port service and intermodality. The results of the research will be used to improve the transport service planning process to achieve greater competitiveness for the port. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to assess the impacts of technology, and social, economic, and legal effects on climate-friendly transport. A model is created to identify the relationships between important factors that are creating the concept of climate-friendly transport. Structural equation modelling was used to identify the relationships between 21 measured influencing factors and four latent constructs: technology, legislative, and socioeconomic factors, and green transportation as abstract concepts used to group them. The relationships between all of the measured factors and constructs are calculated indicating the correlations, regression, and covariance between all elements of the study. The relationships between the abstract concepts and factors are calculated. The results of this research will improve insight into all environmentally friendly transport-influencing factors and concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cohesion policy is one of the European Union’s policies, which provides Member States with the possibility of financial support under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) as well as with the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), to reduce disparities and encourage the development of less developed Member States. By funding through Cohesion policy funds, the European Union seeks to accomplish a prosperous economy by achieving appropriate European standards in the individual Member States. Cohesion policy emphasizes the development of transport and mobility, and in particular, the investment in key transport links and sections of international importance through the revitalization of railway infrastructure in line with European Union standards. The railway system of the Republic of Croatia has been under-invested for many years, which is why it has not followed the requirements and needs of the development of the transport market. Membership in the European Union has provided the Republic of Croatia with co-financing for the development of the railway system. This paper will analyse the current investments in the railway system and the development potentials that are planned to be achieved in the next programming period. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the importance of the Cohesion Policy of the European Union for the development of the railway system of the Republic of Croatia in the Programming period 2021-2027. The analysis aims to identify opportunities for further development of the railway system as the ‘cleanest’ transport industry, guided by the need to reduce harmful emissions following the European Green Deal by using funds from the European Structural and Investment Funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of digitalization i.e. implementation of digital technologies is widely present in the seaports. Digitalization encourages seaports to adjust and implement digital technologies in providing their services, while constantly striving to stay efficient, profitable and competitive. The implementation of digital technologies results in altered perspective of seaport service quality. Since seaport service quality is not prescribed and strictly defined, the importance of digitalization should be taken into consideration, which includes redefining the seaport service quality factors. Worlds’ leading seaports, especially leading European seaports, recognized the possibilities of digital technologies in providing quality seaport services and are investing in their implementation. In this paper, seaport service quality is analysed in the context of digitalization i.e. the implementation of digital technologies. The purpose of this paper is to define the quality factors and opportunities for improving seaport service quality based on the analysis of digital technologies implemented in seaports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reform of the higher education system has been induced by the requisite creation of a unique European area of higher education, aimed at the development of a new dimension of the European society and knowledge. As a part of the reform, adequate measures were undertaken and new quality assurance and development mechanisms were implemented. The basis for consolidation and implementation of quality assurance in the Republic of Croatia is the Bologna Declaration, with Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area being the fundamental document concerning quality assurance within the context. The objective of this work is to show the importance of the Bologna process in the function of higher education quality assurance in the Republic of Croatia as the fundamental mission in the development of knowledge society and economy as a whole. In this accordance, the aim of this work is to show the progress followed in the implementation of the Bologna process through promoting students' and educators' mobility, setting up the quality monitoring system and pursuing European cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early in the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 disease pandemic occurred, and European Union members made the decision to restrict their borders to protect the public's health. Demand for travel and transportation services has decreased as a result of the epidemiological scenario brought on by the movement restriction. The research focuses on how mobility affects traffic safety in the Republic of Croatia, considering the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of limiting human movement and contact in order to safeguard human health. In this paper, relevant traffic indicators and their effects on road traffic safety are analysed with the aim of analysing the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on mobility and traffic safety. The study compares safety indicators during different time periods, including before, during, and after the removal of restrictions prompted by a pandemic. The research aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on traffic safety and mobility patterns, providing valuable insights for future planning practices that incorporate emerging knowledge. The research aims to promote pedestrian and bicycle traffic, reduce air pollution, and contribute to global initiatives aimed at achieving road safety goals. Moreover, it offers a potential solution to help achieve the European policy targets for road mobility and safety by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime cargo flows are the basis of the world economic development and growth of the each continent, region and state. Therefore, positioning on the maritime intensive cargo flow is imperative for each country streaming for rapid and robust economic development. In order to implement geo-transport situation analysis and forecast of the maritime cargo flows in the world, this paper examines the importance and representation of maritime cargo flows in the structure of the world trade, regional arrangement or the most leading regions, ports and maritime transport routes in the world. Analyzing the intensity and dynamics of the world ports traffic, as well as reference nodes in the circulation of maritime cargo flows, the paper also defines the leading worlds, Asian, American and European ports. Considering the great importance and the large representation of container traffic, intensity and routes of container cargo flows were specially analyzed. Based on the actual data and actual forecast about maritime transport movement and development, the paper gives predictions and forecast of world maritime trade development considering the market leader regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The port service quality research methods from the users' point of view are presented in this paper. The purpose of this research is to select and reduce a large number of the port service quality attributes to a smaller number of attributes, grouped in common factors according to certain criteria. By analyzing the structure of the grouped attributes, the users' expectation of the service quality provided according to their requirements is determined and evaluated. The determination of interdependence among more variables has been carried out by using the multivariate analysis or, specifically, by using the method of the principal component factor analysis. The presented methodology has been applied to the real data obtained from the questionnaire of the sample of students attending the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Rijeka, Croatia. The data collected have been processed by using the SPSS 16.0. statistical package. Based on the factor matrix and after having carried out the Oblimin rotation, it has been determined that five latent groups of attributes grouped in factors have been indicated by the attributes. Five factors singled out considering the associated port service quality attributes have been called: the port functionality factor, the port responsibility factor, the port adaptability factor, the port availability factor and the port information capacity factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methods of choosing the possible attributes affecting the perception of the port service quality are presented in this paper. The purpose of the study is to reduce a great number of the port service quality attributes to a smaller number of attributes, grouped in common factors. Thus, a structural model, much easier to be explained and tested on the concrete example, has been obtained. The hypothesis is put forward stating that the two dimensions of the port service quality: reliability and competence are best explained by the attributes presented. An optimal selection of attributes has been made by the principal component analysis, while the attribute distribution has been obtained by the exploratory factor analysis. The confirmative factor analysis has been used to define the structural model, adaptable to the results of the questionnaire submitted to the sample of students of the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Rijeka, Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid changes induced by technological improvements and the intensified use of ports as logistics centers in the whole transport and logistics service chain have initiated an increasing port service competition. The port service quality, together with the costs of, has become the key factor in the functioning of ports and in maintaining their position on the demanding and fluctuating port services market. Researches into the port service quality and aiming at measuring the service quality according to the needs and demands of the port users are very rarely carried out, the evidence of which is based on the existing Croatian and foreign scientific literature. The paper aims at pointing out the importance of determining the port service quality, being a prerequisite for a successful development of the port industry and the transport system as a whole, and to begin with the quality dimension needs to be clearly defined. The complexities of a port, as regards the large number of port users interested in such a port and of the services offered, make the identification of a unique set of dimensions more difficult. Although quality can be analyzed from various aspects, the paper aims at identifying the suggested set of port service quality dimensions according to the needs and demands of the port users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positioning of large energy facilities is, as a rule, accompanied by a strong rejection of local and regional communities, without which it is not possible to determine the location and construction conditions for the facility in spatial plans. However, a synergy of three components may enable a successful project realization. Firstly, the application of verified and objective scientific methods for the selection of the most appropriate LNG terminal location. Secondly, the consideration of the best world practices in project documentation preparation for such terminal construction. And lastly, the continuous involvement of the local community into the entire process. The paper presents an approach aimed at solving the problem of choice by applying the methodology of choosing the “best compromise location” based on system characteristics, available data, set criteria, and limitations. The key “dimension” of such a problem is “space”, i.e. the spatial aspects of location selection. The paper provides an overview of the activities, procedures, and methods used to define the optimal location of the receiving LNG terminal in the Republic of Croatia as part of the analysis and research carried out by EKONERG and in the function of creating the Spatial Plan of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Accordingly, the main objective of this paper was to highlight the specifics of LNG terminal site selection as well as the possibility of objectively defining the optimal location using the multi-criteria decision-making method that simultaneously takes into account all infl uential factors and criteria in defining it. The paper uses the methodology of multi-attribute decision process and multicriteria analysis of the selection of the optimal location of the LNG terminal on the territory of PrimorjeGorski Kotar County. It systematically and scientifically analyses, consistently formulates, and proposes elimination and comparative criteria necessary to determine the optimal location of the LNG terminal for the purpose of drafting regional level spatial planning documents. The presented methodology was carried out using the process of multicriteria ranking of variants. The method of weighted sum values was used. Weighting factors are determined partly in an exact way (where possible) and partly based on the application of Delphi group decision-making methods. The methodology was tested on a concrete example of variant analysis for the location of LNG terminals in the Republic of Croatia. By implementing the presented methodology, the location of the northern part of the island of Krk was determined as optimal for the location of the LNG terminal. The aforementioned was implemented in the Spatial Plan of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the first phase of the receiving LNG terminal was built and put into full operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with the European Union transport policy, external costs have become a new and important factor in cargo flows formation. Shifting the freight from road to railway in order to decrease-the external costs is one of the consequences of implementing such a policy. By incorporating the Port of Rijeka into the Adriatic Baltic Transport Corridor, the railway section of the Rijeka-Pivka corridor has gained first-rate significance. Considering external costs, shifting a part of cargo from the corridor section Koper-Divača onto the Rijeka-Pivka section, and modernization the railway of the latter one, has become the common interest of Slovenia and the Republic of Croatia. The increase of cargo flows intensity on this railway route, based on the principles of green logistics, would inevitably lead to the same effects at the Koper-Pivka railway route. Such development would not jeopardize the competitiveness of the Port of Koper, on the contrary, the cargo flows through Slovenia would increase in a short-term period. This approach means a practical realization of the interests for the EU members countries on the Baltic-Adriatic corridor and efforts of the European transport policy, which takes into accountthe external costs as an innovative approach to the creation of the "green corridors". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the European Union open borders, free movement of goods, services, people and capital has been enabled and the need for a fast, efficient and comfortable transport, with as low transport and external costs as possible, has necessarily increased. External costs, as transport-generated public costs, represent great threat to the environment and increasing attention has been engaged in fighting the negative impact of transport upon environment. According to the EU statistical forecasts, significant increase in transport activities may be expected within 2050, hence the adoption of the European Union Sustainable Development Strategy and a collection of Directives dealing with environmental protection from different means of transport within different traffic categories. Through various Action Programmes comprising a series of measures, the European Union Sustainable Development Strategy aims at decreasing external costs, protecting the environment and increasing traffic safety. In this accordance, the paper deals with the analysis of external costs within each particular traffic category, taking into consideration the air, water and soil pollution, noise, vibrations and the impact of certain traffic categories upon landscape and animal and plant diversity. Using the comparative analysis of external costs within different traffic categories, the research is aimed at highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of exploitation of different means of transport. The examined external cost indicators point to the complexity of examined issues and they should be systematically used for the purpose of development and continuous traffic redirection to more acceptable traffic categories in terms of environment protection, energy efficiency and safety enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims at analyzing the basic features of inland waterways transport and the current condition of the European inland waterways network for the purpose of determining the potential opportunities for their better integration into the Trans -- European transport network. The comparative advantages of the inland waterways transport in relation to other transport modes appearprimarly in terms of safety and environmental acceptability and that is why the European transport policy gives to the improvement of this way of transport, beside the rail transport, priority within the whole transport system. An adequate development of the inland waterways network in accordance with the development strategy is a necessary precondition set for the improvement of inland navigation in the Republic of Croatia, which, despite its natural potential, is of minor importance in the structure of the realised transport. The implemented SWOT analysis provides a good basis for defining the potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the inland navigation system in the Republic of Croatia so important for setting up intermodal transport chains in Europe. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to indicate the possibilities, advantages and importance of inland waterways transport in order to integrate different transport sectors aiming at achieving the development and sustainability of the European transport system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]