Establishing Criteria for Ports of International Importance in the Republic of Croatia: A Case Study of the Port of Gaženica

The Republic of Croatia is home to six major ports open for public transport. These ports are of significant economic interest and are crucial to the country's maritime traffic and economy. This paper examines the ports' key development criteria and evaluates their relevance and applicability to the Port of Gaženica, which has been selected as a case study. This study identifies geographical, technological, and socio-economic factors influencing the Port of Gaženica's growth, evaluating its current status and future potential. The port's status was analysed using a methodology that included expert input and the evaluation of both existing and proposed criteria. The Port of Gaženica operates well, but there are significant opportunities for investment and improvement, especially in container and RO-RO shipping, and passenger services.