How a Rijeka school is reviving Croatia’s shipbuilding tradition

Rijeka

After decades of crisis in Croatia’s shipbuilding sector, the impact was felt not only in shipyards but also in education.

However, recent years have brought renewed optimism, as interest grows among young people in the shipbuilding technician programme, a course offered exclusively by the Technical School Rijeka.

The programme is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of shipbuilding, from design and planning to construction and final production.

According to Robin Matulja, a teacher at the school, the goal is to equip students with broad, practical knowledge.

“Shipbuilding technicians learn construction techniques, design methods, and how to understand shipbuilding as a complete process, from paper to a finished vessel,” Matulja told HRT.

Theory quickly turns into practice in the school’s workshop, where students apply classroom knowledge to real projects. Previous generations participated in European projects, while recent donations have enabled students to take on a particularly ambitious task: the restoration of a 40-year-old traditional wooden pasara from Malinska.

Alongside this, the school is developing additional educational programmes outside regular classes, involving experienced shipbuilders who pass their skills directly to the younger generation.

“We want old masters to transfer their knowledge to new hands,” says Matulja.

That transfer of knowledge is most visible in the ongoing restoration of the pasara, a traditional wooden boat characteristic of the Kvarner region. The project benefits greatly from the expertise of teacher Josip Rubinić, who comes from a shipbuilding family.

“Our students work from the first to the fourth year. Restoring this boat allows them to go through every detail and truly understand how the craft works,” Rubinić says. “It gives them experience, a sense of how the trade functions, and skills they can use throughout life.”

The choice of a wooden Kvarner pasara is no coincidence. The school places strong emphasis on maritime heritage and traditional craftsmanship.

“They’re more interesting to work on,” says student Marko Krstinić. “It feels like they have a soul. Wood is more natural, it belongs in the sea more than plastic or steel.”

Shipbuilding Is Not Just a Man’s Trade

The programme also challenges outdated perceptions that shipbuilding is exclusively male.

“I like working with my hands, sanding, gluing,” says student Lea Plušćec. “I was also drawn to the drawing and design side. It opens up many possibilities for the future.”

Rijeka

Such enthusiasm is supported by teachers who often go beyond standard educational requirements. Part of the practical training takes place in the workshop of Professor Rajko Rubeša, whose family has worked with wood for four generations.

“Young people are genuinely interested,” Rubeša tells HRT. “For many, this is something new. Some plan to continue shipbuilding through university studies, others through maritime education, and some will return to family businesses. Shipbuilding will always call them back.”

Beyond the school grounds, another vessel is being restored in the courtyard of Rubeša’s family home, where students refine their skills.

“We’re sanding, removing old varnish, and restoring it to its original look,” explains student Roko Perčinić.

“It’s work, but it’s not too difficult,” adds David Strekalov.

One of the biggest challenges remains the old boat engine, which students hope to repair themselves.

“When it’s finished, we’ll install it in our pasara, launch the boat, and take it out to sea with our teachers,” says Enio Brezac.

Until both restored boats are once again sailing the waters of Kvarner, several more generations of students will continue to hone their shipbuilding skills, ensuring that Croatia’s rich maritime tradition is not only preserved, but actively lived.