Large ship, Bolette Cruiser, navigates under Pelješac Bridge, becoming the first large vessel to do so

Large ship, Bolette Cruiser, navigates under Pelješac Bridge, becoming the first large vessel to do so

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🛥️ First Large Cruise Ship Sails Under the Pelješac Bridge 🇭🇷

At precisely 6:18 AM, history was made as a cruise ship successfully sailed under the newly-built Pelješac Bridge. This monumental moment marks the formal opening of the bridge, set to be officially unveiled in late July[1].

The picturesque journey offered passengers a stunning view of the bridge, which has just aced another test, as reported by Slobodna Dalmacija[2]. To celebrate the occasion, you can find all the stunning photos HERE.

As the bridge underwent rigorous tests, heavy trucks crossed over to check the durability of the steel structure and windbreaks, followed by tests for maritime traffic's permeability between the bridge's pillars. The Bolette cruise ship, measuring over 237 meters in length and 32.5 meters in width[3], was chosen for the privilege of testing the bridge's maritime capacity. With 12 decks, the capacity to accommodate 1,380 passengers, and a top speed of 25 knots, the Bolette certainly made a splash as it navigated the Croatian waters.

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Worried about the clearance, given the Bolette's air draft – the height from the water to the highest point on the ship – of 48.1 meters[3], and the maximum allowed height under the Pelješac Bridge of 55 meters, it appears there were no issues for this vessel. Bolette sailed effortlessly into the Neum area, with experienced captain Glavić smoothly maneuvering the ship, having already made a name for himself by expertly guiding a ship through the narrow Corinth Canal[4].

Despite the Pelješac Bridge's ability to accommodate smaller vessels, it has been suggested by critics in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) that the bridge will prevent ships from entering Neum. However, the architect behind the bridge, Slovenian Marijan Pipenbacher, quickly dismissed these claims as unfounded and politically motivated[4].

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"The Republic of Croatia has opened a maximum passage to Neum, with a height of 55 meters, and every ship can pass. It passes as in the largest European ports. Large ships and cruisers have no business here because it is a protected area through Natura 2000. Large propellers would dig up the seabed," Pipenbacher explained.

The bridge has four passages, each measuring 285 meters wide, allowing vessels to choose their route as they make their way toward Neum, a choice confirmed by the Bolette's smooth passage[4].

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While the Pelješac Bridge may have successfully fulfilled expectations, it seems the city of Neum is not as thrilled with the arrival of the Bolette or prospective future cruises. Citing concerns about mass tourism, city crowds, and pollution, residents are allegedly preparing a protest against cruise tourism[5].

The President of the Municipal Council of Neum, Daniela Matić, firmly believes that the arrival of cruise ships like the Bolette is inadmissible, stating: "Neum is not a port; therefore, big ships have no business in our bay. The entry of this and similar ships into the Neum Bay means automatic endangerment of the ecosystem and pollution that will cause significant damage to Neum."[5]

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• Footnotes:
  1. https://www.croatiaweek.com/peljesac-bridge-construction-svelup/
  2. https://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/novosti/brod-bolette-proulica-pod-mostom-peljesac-bruegelov-kovacnicar-slikan-na-fracima/vrste/vijesti/1236731
  3. https://www.dar.hr/clanak/54004-slika-na-brodu-bolette-narucio-je-naftni-gigant-Lukoil
  4. https://www.sportal.hr/novosti/2021/07/12/retka-predaja-broda-voze-pod-peljesac-mostom-tim-na-mostu-ista-koja-je-krac-trajkut-1800580
  5. https://www.sportal.hr/novosti/2021/07/11/neksplodiran-usta-sjurabic-ovaj-put-uzdesenje-o-ponovo-sieldanoj-gradnji-mosta-peljesac-1883050

1. The Bolette cruise ship, with a length of over 237 meters and a width of 32.5 meters, sailed effortlessly under the Pelješac Bridge, showcasing the bridge's maritime permeability.
2. Despite criticism suggesting that the Pelješac Bridge would prevent ships from entering Neum, Slovenian architect Marijan Pipenbacher confirmed that every ship can pass, with large propellers being an exception due to potential seabed damage within the protected Natura 2000 area.
3. The city of Neum, however, expressed concerns about the impact of mass tourism, city crowds, and pollution that might stem from the arrival of large cruise ships like the Bolette.
4. The Bolette's journey marked a significant milestone in the automotive transportation industry, as it successfully navigated under the Pelješac Bridge, paving the way for larger vessels to access Croatian waters in the future.

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