At the end of 2024, we presented the Pičuljan 980 Patrol, one of the first vessels delivered for use by Croatia’s Harbour Master’s Offices under the government project to renew the SAR fleet. In April 2025, we had the opportunity to conduct the first test of the Adriana 36 Patrol off Zadar, the first boat built by Adriana Boats as part of the same project.
That boat was delivered to the Novi Vinodolski branch of the Harbour Master’s Office at the end of October 2024, while an identical vessel was delivered to Ploče in March 2025. A total of 15 SAR 10 boats will be built and commissioned by the end of 2026, as part of the project to renew the fleet of Croatia’s Harbour Master’s Offices. They are being built by a consortium comprising Brodogradnja Pičuljan and Adriana Boats.
Brodogradnja Pičuljan builds its boats on the existing hull mould of the 980, while Adriana Boats uses the hull form of the well-known Adriana 36, designed by Nikola Orešković, who was working at the Shipbuilding Institute at the time.
Testing at Just the Right Time
The hulls of all the SAR 10 boats ordered are moulded at Brodogradnja Pičuljan’s facility in Mučići, above Rijeka. The superstructure and all other components of the Adriana 36 Patrol are assembled at the Adriana Boats facility in Poličnik. The boat’s superstructure was designed by the Split-based naval architecture studio Pulse Yacht Design d.o.o. The documentation for the Croatian Register of Shipping was prepared by School of Fish d.o.o. of Rijeka.
After six months in service, this boat had just undergone its first maintenance service and received some of the required equipment that had not arrived in time for the original delivery. We managed to schedule our test of the Adriana 36 Patrol at precisely the right moment, just after that first service and immediately before the boat was transferred back to Novi Vinodolski.
The Adriana 36 Patrol and Pičuljan 980 Patrol were built to the same specifications. Their electronics, equipment and engines are identical, but they are nevertheless two different vessels, with different hulls and superstructures. The Adriana 36 Patrol is slightly wider and a few centimetres longer.
Stable, Robust and Exceptionally Comfortable
This is a semi-displacement lobster-style vessel that is stable, robust and exceptionally comfortable. The main conceptual difference between the two boats is that the designers of the Adriana 36 Patrol chose to remove all electrical and water systems from the engine room in the stern. They relocated them to a separate compartment in the bow, immediately ahead of the helm station. The chargers, water tanks, batteries and all other electronic equipment are housed in this dedicated compartment, where they are more easily accessible for maintenance and other purposes. The equipment is also better protected from external influences because the control room is free from moisture, water and exhaust fumes.
The Adriana 36 Patrol is 16 cm wider than the Patrol 980. The interior is entered from the spacious cockpit through a large glass door. To port is a small table with a bench, where reports and other administrative work can be completed. Ahead of it are two comfortable helm seats.
Three Comfortable Seats for the Helmsman and Crew
As on the Patrol 980, large doors on both sides provide quick and easy access from the cabin to the deck. The boat is robust and powerful, with ample engine power. She is equipped with a 24 V bow thruster driven by an AC motor, which makes manoeuvring considerably easier for the crew.
Two Furuno displays are positioned ahead of the helmsman’s and co-helmsman’s seats, together with a compass, depth sounder, echo sounder and radio communications equipment. The boat is fitted with an X-band HD radar with a 72 NM range and an open-array antenna. The radar can track and analyse targets and automatically display those posing a hazard. It is operated from a control panel on the console ahead of the helmsman. The equipment also includes a portable searchlight, radar reflector and weather station.
The Adriana 36 Patrol has two helm seats on the starboard side of the cabin and another on the port side. This is another difference from the Patrol 980, which has only one helmsman’s seat at the control station. In front of the seat on the port side is a display connected to a camera mounted on the superstructure. The camera can be moved, rotated and zoomed using the touchscreen or the buttons beneath it, and it also features image stabilisation.
The Adriana 36 Patrol is also equipped with fire alarms and five automatic bilge pumps. One is exceptionally powerful and intended for emergency use. The boat has a 137-litre water tank, a 100-litre black-water tank and a 45-litre oily-water tank. The new SAR 10 boat from Adriana Boats carries two 500-litre fuel tanks.
Twin 370 hp Yanmar Engines
Four steps lead down into the bow section of the Adriana 36 Patrol. Unlike the equivalent space aboard the Pičuljan 980 Patrol, this area has a different layout. The side benches are considerably wider and can accommodate two people overnight if necessary. Thanks to their length and width, they also provide far more storage space beneath, something that is never unwelcome aboard.
The centrally positioned table in front of the benches can be lowered or removed. On the port side of the bow is a compartment with a toilet, shower and washbasin. On the opposite side is the previously mentioned control room containing the batteries and electronic equipment.
The boat is designed to carry up to 12 passengers. She is powered by 2 Yanmar 8LV3700 engines, each producing 370 hp (272 kW), and is fitted with a 10.5 kW Mase diesel generator. The engines and generator are housed in the spacious engine room in the aft section of the vessel.
As on the Patrol 980, the stern of the boat is completely open, unobstructed and uncluttered, with 3 separate rail sections dividing it from the H – B Technics hydraulic platform. The platform can be lowered completely into the water using either a remote control or controls installed in the side panel at the stern. This will be particularly useful when casualties need to be recovered from the sea.
The side decks aboard the Adriana 36 Patrol are wide, considerably wider than those of the Patrol 980, and 3 well-designed steps lead to the bow. The side rails are set high and follow the lines of the hull, making movement between the cockpit and bow both easy and safe. The bow rail is also high everywhere except in the central section, allowing the boat to be boarded over the bow.
Practical and Efficient
In terms of handling, the latest addition to the fleet of Croatia’s Harbour Master’s Offices gives the impression of a stable, well-balanced and comfortable boat. The engines are superbly insulated and the interior remains exceptionally quiet, even at the maximum speed of 31 knots. Cruising speed is 23 knots. At approximately 3,100 rpm and around 70% load, each engine consumes between 40 and 45 litres of fuel per hour. At the maximum speed of 31 knots, the engines turn at 3,750 rpm and consumption increases to 60 litres per engine per hour.
We tested the Adriana 36 Patrol in completely calm seas, so rougher conditions had to be simulated by crossing our own wake. Thanks to her lobster-style hull, the boat cut through the waves without excessive pitching and remained very stable overall. At slightly lower cruising speeds, the bow is gently raised and the boat runs in semi-displacement mode. Add more throttle and the Adriana 36 Patrol makes a smooth, unobtrusive transition onto the plane.
The steering is precise and the throttle controls respond very well. When going hard astern, water does not flood the aft section of the cockpit. Two seats with heavy-duty suspension are fitted at the helm station, with footrests beneath that can be extended or lowered. Visibility from the helm is excellent in every direction except perhaps astern, particularly when the door leading to the cockpit is closed.
The helmsman therefore has a camera display at his disposal. There is ample room at the helm, with everything within easy reach whether seated or standing. The doors on both sides of the cabin open and fold back easily with a single firm movement. With every door closed, the interior remains remarkably quiet, even when travelling at maximum speed.
An Excellent Market Reception
The first Adriana 36 Patrol was delivered to Novi Vinodolski in October, while another was delivered to Ploče in March 2025. Adriana Boats will deliver 5 more Adriana 36 Patrol boats to the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.
Hrvoje Škifić, Managing Director of Adriana Boats, told us that the repurposed and redesigned Adriana 36 had been very well received by the market. In addition to the boats for the Harbour Master’s Offices, the company has built 2 vessels on the same hull for the emergency medical service of the Municipality of Preko and has already received enquiries from private clients.
“The Adriana 36 Patrol is a fast, safe, stable and comfortable boat that will appeal to many users for fishing, transporting passengers or cargo, and other commercial purposes. We previously built vessels for the police and customs authorities. With this SAR10 construction project, we have definitively confirmed our ability to build commercial vessels to the highest standards. It is an excellent reference for us, particularly because many people did not even know that Adriana Boats is the successor to SAS Vektor and continues to build the Adriana 36 and Adriana 44 successfully. This project has given us visibility and allowed us to demonstrate our quality. We have shown that we remain active in the market and competitive in the race for clients,” said Hrvoje Škifić.
Adriana 36 Patrol : Technical Specifications
- Length: 10.03 m
- Beam: 3.98 m
- Height: 1.80 m
- Draught: 0.92 m
- Passenger capacity: 12
- Light displacement with equipment: 8.9 t
- Maximum speed: 31 knots
- Cruising speed: 23 knots
- Range at maximum speed: 200 nm
Manufacturer: Adriana Boats d.o.o., Verdijeva 6, 51000 Rijeka
WORDS Lari Lulić
PHOTOGRAPHY Marin Srzić
