News

Koper, Slovenia, hosted the international marine pollution response exercise POLex 2026 on 23 and 24 September 2026. The exercise was organised within the framework of the ASAP project (Adriatic Sensitive Areas Protection mechanism), coordinated by the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI-ES) in Trieste and co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme.

Trieste, 22 September 2026 – As part of MMO ADRIA 2026 (Multipurpose Maritime Operation Adria), the international maritime search and rescue exercise Adriatic Sea SAREX 2026 was conducted in the Gulf of Trieste. The exercise was organized and coordinated by the Italian Coast Guard through the MRSC Trieste (Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre Trieste).

We would like to inform you that a test environment for the updated NEO system is now available for testing.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is conducting a survey on the implementation and use of Maritime Single Window (MSW) systems, which are intended to simplify and digitalize the exchange of information between ships, ports, and competent authorities.

Representatives of the Slovenian Maritime Administration (SMA) attended the 6th international conference ADRIASPILLCON2026 (Adriatic Oil Spill Conference), which took place in Zadar, Croatia, from April 21 to 23, 2026.

We celebrated the Slovenian Maritime Day 2026 on Friday, March 6 2026, with the event "The Pulse of the Sea." The event took place at the new Koper Passenger Terminal, where the attendees were addressed by the Minister of Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, M.A., the Chairwoman of the Management Board of Luka Koper, Nevenka Kržan, and the Director of the Maritime Administration, Jadran Klinec.

From February 16, 2026, until further notice, office hours for document issuance will be temporarily adjusted to ensure smooth operations.

In the fall of 2026, the Slovenian Maritime Administration will conduct an international exercise on the prevention of marine pollution in the northern Adriatic.

The Republic of Slovenia has notified the International Maritime Organization that, effective January 1, 2026, a VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) – a service for monitoring, managing, and controlling vessel traffic – will begin operating under the Maritime Administration.

An international event focused on the digital future of European shipping took place in Brussels on November 12, 2025.

On January 1, 2026, the amendment to the Code on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, adopted by Resolution 2 of the 1995 Conference, as amended—the STCW Code (Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code).

We inform you on the new regulations on sulphur content of fuel oils used on board in the Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter, from 1 May 2025.

The 23rd meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean – the Barcelona Convention (Conference of Parties – COP 23), held in Portorož, has successfully concluded. The contracting parties have adopted multiple important commitments to protect the Mediterranean from the increasing effects of climate change and to reduce biodiversity and pollution in the Mediterranean. One of the highlighted focus points is the active involvement of youth in decision-making processes.

"When it comes to the environment, there are no borders. There is only one environment, and that is the environment of our planet. We must take action and we must act globally. You will be proud of what Slovenia is going to stand for in the next two years," Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob told the delegates gathered at the 23rd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention – COP 23, as Slovenia takes over the Presidency.

On the second day of the meeting of 21 contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention, which is currently ongoing in Portorož, the Delegates focused on marine spatial planning, ballast water management and inert waste disposal. Today, the countries also completed the final content harmonization of the Portorož Declaration, which will be adopted at tomorrow's ministerial meeting. The countries also support the idea of establishing a new regional climate change centre.

All passengers entering Slovenia by aircraft or cruise ship will have to fill out a Digital Passenger Locator Form (electronic PLF form - dPLF) from 16 August 2021 before entering the country.