As Lošinj is an island made of stone, life on it was very difficult in ancient times. People did not have enough space to practice agriculture and livestock breeding, so they had to turn to the sea for their livelihood.
They were originally sailors and mariners, but after a while they decided they would no longer sail for others and started building ships themselves. It didn't take them long to build their own fleet.
The golden age of Lošinj's maritime industry was in the second half of the 19th century when around 250 sailing ships sailed around the world, most of which were built in Lošinj shipyards.
Only one cove in Lošinj – Augusta – had as many as seven holes. At that time, the island was the third port on the Adriatic, after Trieste and Rijeka. However, unlike large ocean liners, the loger is also built in smaller dimensions. This smaller one by a heavy sailing ship The route was around the northern part of Lošinj and partly around Cres.
The Loger transported bulk cargo – wood, sand, lime, even livestock, and due to its shallow draft, it could dock in a number of smaller bays. It can be said that this type of ship nourished a large part of the island.
Nerezinac
Loger Nerezinac is a valuable specimen traditional shipbuilding which has been on the list of protected cultural assets of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia since 2010. It was restored based on the model of the Lošinj log cabins from the late 19th century with the cooperation of numerous experts and local craftsmen.
There is a lot to know about the original Lošinj loger. little data, there is only general information about this type of ship – about the time in which it was built and used, and the types of cargo it carried. The incomplete and fragmentary history of the ship has nevertheless been understood as an opportunity to question the authenticity of history and tradition.
The wooden motor ship Dražica was renamed Nerezinac after its restoration. It is a valuable example of traditional shipbuilding, the reconstruction of which was carried out – without the original design – by About 200 peopleSince there weren't many shipyards that built wooden ships anymore, there was no one to ask for advice, so many things had to be learned anew.
A different interpretation center
By restoring the ship and transforming it into an interpretation center, a unique tourist infrastructure has been created – open-air museum – which contributes to the view of typical maritime island towns of the northern Croatian Adriatic.
This, unlike most, maritime heritage interpretation center, on a ship that is not only anchored or moored but also sails, can be found in various places – in the ports of the Mala barka itinerary or somewhere at sea while sailing the northern Adriatic. The ship also participates in tourist events, including: traditional boat regattas.
Invaluable knowledge
Today, the people of Lošinj are trying to revive part of their maritime tradition through the loger, but they are also sending a strong message. They have created know-how which I can give to others on the Adriatic with similar projects. The loggers were made by hand, which is why the reconstruction was so challenging.
Although it did not become a blueprint, thanks to the profession, numerous enthusiasts and people who worked in the shipyards, it was gathered and acquired. invaluable knowledge which would be useful to transfer to other places across the Adriatic.
Maritime and tourism
The end of Lošinj's maritime industry began to be seen in the first half of the 20th century, when sailing ships were replaced by steamships. The people of Lošinj believed in the power of the wind, and due to the fact that they lived on an island that required additional costs for purchasing materials, they did not adapt to modern technologies in time.
Maritime trade has declined, but started developing tourism – but also again on the basics of seafaring, on what sailors and shipbuilders acquired and built on the island.
Set-up
The museum exhibition shows the features of everyday life on board at the end of the 19th century. However, apart from general information about this type of ship, the time in which they were built and used, and the type of cargo transported, there is very little direct information about this vessel. The history of Nerezinac is almost completely unknown.
The set-up consists of a part arranged on the waterfront in front of the ship, a part on the deck and a part placed inside the ship in the lower deck (former warehouse - read). The multimedia setup in the lower deck shows life on a boat through five characteristic thematic units: crew, food, cargo, maritime routes and ship construction and maintenance.
'Workshop'
The setup on the shore (quay) and deck (envelope) contains an information board with basic information about the ship and a part called the 'workshop' - a structure similar to a carpenter's table where visitors can try out some of the skills traditional shipbuilding, ship maintenance, or on deck related to seamanship or ship management.
You can try out: caulking, mending sails, planing, sanding, driving nails, bending wood, tying sailor's knots, scrubbing the deck, blowing a horn, lifting visitors over a block and tackle, raising the sails, and more.
Finally, it is certainly worth noting that the Lošinj Logger Nerezinac project won in 2021. award for the best European destinations for sustainable cultural tourism in the category Archaeological Sites and Museums as Cultural Tourism Attractions.
