Split Mayor Chases Super Yachts Away From Waterfront

The new Mayor of the Croatian city of Split has not taken long in his new role to stir up debate. Ivo Baldasar, who replaced the controversial Zeljko Kerum after recent local body elections, does not want super yachts parked on Split’s Western waterfront.

Baldasar says that he wants to keep Split’s waterfront (riva) as a promenade and does not want big super yachts docking there. On Thursday, as daily Vecernji list reports, the Mayor intervened when the super yacht Lucky me, with an Israeli tycoon on board, docked in.

“This is fantastic, instead of someone coming on board and collecting docking fees and offering their services, on Thursday at lunchtime we had the inspectors come to ask why we were not in the ACI marina. Why would we go there when we can be here,” said the boats capitan.

Baldasar had earlier made a statement saying that Split’ Western waterfront would not be used as a docking area for ‘every idiot’. Former Mayor Kerum’s plans were to commercialize the newly opened western waterfront, but those plans seem to have ‘fallen in the water’ and the former Mayor says this decision will affect Croatia’s ability to develop nautical tourism in the city.