At today’s press conference, the owner of Marina Kaštela, Joško Berket, addressed all those present, expressing special gratitude to the sponsors and media that support this extraordinary project. Berket pointed out that plans are currently being developed for next year, aiming to increase both the number of activities and the ships involved in the project.
“I did not expect this project to mean this much to me and my family. Our story begins in Graz, where we sponsored a diabetic crew who embraced their diagnosis with pride. This inspired us to include the Diabetic Society from Split and bring in more boats for diabetics from Split and Kaštela. I was thrilled to see how children and parents with disabilities come into a shared environment and feel at home. I presented this idea to the Mirno more – Peace Fleet committee 12 years ago and we have been a part of it for the past 11 years. We now have a large number of volunteers in Vienna, Kaštela, and throughout Croatia, and Mirno more has about 25 projects in Varaždin, Pula, Mali Lošinj, Split, and Kaštela. My whole family is now involved in Mirno more, because we need this project more than it needs us,” Berket said.
Andreas Bauer, CEO of the Mirno More association, pointed out: “In the 30 years since the inception of the Peace Fleet, peace and solidarity have not lost their importance. On the contrary, these values are more important than ever. During fleet week, children embark on an unforgettable adventure, leave behind their everyday worries, and forge lifelong friendships.”
The Mayor of Kaštela, Denis Ivanović, expressed his satisfaction that this project has been held for 30 years, noting that this marks its 11th year in Kaštela. He thanked the media present at the conference, as well as Joško Berket and the entire team of Marine Kaštela for their years of dedication on this and other humanitarian projects. He welcomed the children and wished them a pleasant stay in Kaštela.
Frane Radelja spoke on behalf of the Split-Dalmatia County Prefect, Blaženko Boban, and his deputies. “The County supports this commendable initiative that promotes true values. We want to help the community through various programmes within the county. We invite the organisers to join us in the Maritime Heritage programme, which aims to refresh and protect maritime heritage, so that we could cooperate on this project together,” Radelja said.
The long-standing sponsor of the project, OTP Bank, was represented by Zrinka Svoboda Sabljić, who greeted all those present. “We are honoured to be a part of this humanitarian event, and we hope to continue to be a part of this project for many years to come,” Svoboda Sabljić stated.
The conference provided an insight into the importance and impact of the Mirno more – Marina Kaštela project, which, despite the challenges, continues to send a strong message of unity and solidarity.
