Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi is saving the Croatian shipbuilding industry - that could be concluded from the lucrative business deals the Croatian Adria Mar shipbuilding company stationed in Zagreb has allegedly struck with Libya.

During the last year, Croatian shipyards became master ports for Lybian warships overhaul, but also a place were several patrol ships constructed by Adria Mar company have been manufacturing for the Libyan naval fleet and coast guard.

Libya has decided to purchase six additional patrol ships and the next delivery will be characterized by improved ships with new code - OOB31.
Besides that, Croatian company is close to finalizing talks on the construction of three large 60-meter offshore patrol boats of the OPV60 series, each worth USD 30 million.

Libyans have accepted this project and it is beeing commissioned at the moment, waiting for the authorisation for finacing it from Lybian coast guard budget.  Furthermore, Libya commissioned a 60-meter corvette MCP60, but the naval authorities have yet to approve the financing of the project. For the last few months Adria Mar's engineers are in charge of refitting three Libyan naval vessels in Kraljevica and Trogir  – a job worth USD 50 million.

Within the next three years, the Libyan naval authorities will order a complete reconstruction of five more gunboats in Croatian shipyards.