Tito's Ship 'Galeb' Still Far From Museum Status Amidst Repairs and Rising Costs

The ambitious project to transform President Tito's former ship, the 'Galeb,' into a museum attraction in Croatia is encountering substantial hurdles, delaying its opening and escalating costs.

Following damage sustained in February when the ship was struck by a Turkish vessel, the 'Galeb' is now undergoing repairs. The City of Rijeka has issued a new tender for the work, with an estimated cost of 430,000 euros before VAT. This figure is nearly double the amount from a previous tender that was canceled due to an irregular bid.

The total cost of the ship's renovation has surged, partly because of the need for additional work beyond the collision repairs. To obtain necessary certificates from the Croatian Register of Shipping, the vessel must undergo a dry-dock inspection. This requirement adds further expense and complexity to the project.

To date, 15 million euros have been spent on the 'Galeb's' restoration. The ship spent six years undergoing shipbuilding modifications in Kraljevica and another year and a half after being towed to its current mooring in Rijeka. The collision damage alone is estimated at 165,000 euros, to be covered by the Turkish ship's insurance. The city is now awaiting bids for the towing, collision repair, and dry-dock hull inspection, with a deadline of August 7.