Maritime Day in Slovenia Date in the current year: March 7, 2024

Slovenia is a country in southern Central Europe that has a short coastline within the Gulf of Trieste in the Adriatic Sea. Its maritime history can be traced back to the late 18th century, when Slovenia became part of the Austrian Empire, and some Slovenes decided to join the Imperial Austrian Navy. In the second half of the 19th century, many Slovenes attended maritime schools in Croatia and then joined the merchant navy.

The development of Slovenia’s modern maritime sector began in the late 1980s, when the county started to move towards independence from Yugoslavia. In September 1989, the Slovenian Assembly passed constitutional amendments introducing parliamentary democracy to Slovenia. In March 1990, the Socialist Republic of Slovenia officially changed its name to the Republic of Slovenia, and in December, an independence referendum was held where more than 95% of voters supported Slovenian independence.

Even before the formal declaration of the country’s independence, the government of Slovenia began to prepare important documents that a newly independent nation would need. One of these documents was the Resolution on Maritime Strategy, passed on March 7, 1991. It describes the general development vectors for the country’s maritime sector and consists of three parts:

• The declaration that Slovenia is a maritime country.
• The commitment to utilize the coastal area in a sustainable manner.
• The commitment to adhere to international maritime regulations.

In 1996, the government of Slovenia designated March 7 as Maritime Day to commemorate the adoption of the resolution, raise awareness of the possibilities in the maritime sector, and celebrate the maritime history of Slovenia. It can be regarded as the professional holiday of all people working in the maritime sector.

The length of Slovenia’s coastline is 29 miles (46.6 kilometers). The country has one major port, Koper, which has lines to all major world ports and connects the markets of Central and Southeast Europe with the Mediterranean Sea and Far East. It handles more than 20 million tons of goods every year and is the largest port in terms of container transport in the northern Adriatic Sea. Two smaller ports are located in Izola and Piran.

The coastal region of Slovenia is also important for the country’s tourism. Piran, Portorož, and Izola are among the most popular tourist destinations on Slovenia’s Adriatic coast. Piran is known for its medieval architecture, Portorož is a spa resort that is also popular thanks to its many casinos, and Izola is an old and charming former fishing town.

The maritime sector of Slovenia also includes a system of salt evaporation ponds near Piran where salt is still made the traditional way. The salt produced at the Piran Saltworks has a protected designation of origin status in the EU. The area surrounding largest of the ponds, the Sečovlje Saltworks, was declared a landscape park (a type of protected area).