AdriaSAR Project: Operational Workshops in Martano to Overcome Barriers in Maritime Search and Rescue Between Italy and Croatia
28/04/2026
MARTANO (LE), 26 March 2026 – A key working session for the AdriaSAR (SAR Adriatic Connect) project took place today in the Council Chamber of Martano Town Hall. The initiative is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme. The event, divided into two technical workshops, aimed to identify the legal, administrative and technological barriers hindering cross-border coordination in search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Adriatic Sea. The Municipality of Martano, as project lead, hosted a high-profile round table with the active participation of the entire partnership: the Municipality of Ston, the Ston Development Agency (RAST) and the CNA of Lecce. The contribution of institutional stakeholders and high-level SAR authorities was crucial. The sessions were attended by representatives of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Port Authority of Bari – Coast Guard, representatives of the Port Authorities – Coast Guard of Gallipoli and Otranto, and of the Naval Operations Section of the Guardia di Finanza in Otranto. Their presence enabled a multi-level analysis, integrating the strategic vision with the tactical and operational needs of those who work at sea on a daily basis. Following the opening institutional greetings from the Mayor of Martano, the first debate focused on identifying administrative bottlenecks and regulatory misalignments between the two shores of the Adriatic. During the round table, participants discussed national protocols to define the foundations for the Legal, Administrative, and Technical Barrier Analysis Report. The focus of the second interactive session shifted toward digital innovation. SAR authorities were consulted on the technological tools currently in use to identify "blind spots" in real-time data sharing. The discussion culminated in the joint drafting of technical recommendations to align Italian and Croatian maritime safety procedures and define the essential features required for the future AdriaSAR cross-border digital platform. The results emerging from this workday will feed into the next project steps, which involve the development of an open-source platform dedicated to optimizing cross-border rescue operations.