Representatives of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure have recently signed contracts with 12 tourist and excursion ship owners. Together, they will receive payment of HRK 3.3 million of non-recurring state aid for the building and reconstruction of ships. Almost HRK 2.9 million of building grants will be given to the owners of 10 companies, where four of them are companies from Krilo Jesenice, two from Suhi Potok and one company from Babino Polje on Mljet, one from Biograd, one from Solin and one from Virovitica. Around HRK 340 000 will be paid to a company from Povlje and a tourist firm from Privlaka for the reconstruction of the ships. The tourist fleet development and renewal support project began five years ago and during this period, the state has participated with almost HRK 12 million for the construction of 33 ships and the renewal and reconstruction of 16 ships. The goal of the project is the improvement of sea safety, the protection of the Adriatic environment and the development of tourism and small-scale entrepreneurship on the coast and the islands. The Croatian Tourist Fleet has 405 registered ships, owned by 336 private ship owners – small entrepreneurs, which can carry around 5000 passengers.