Ship history

length: 30 m
yr. built: 1914 god.
rebuild: last 2006 god, before 1990 god.
rapaaty: 250 persons
min: 40-50 persons
2 sun decks

The M/B Argonaut was built in 1914 at the Nerezine shipyard on the island of Losinj in Croatia. It was built as a cargo merchant ship, a very profitable trade in those times. The Argonaut was initially called the Maria Saluta and was a sail operated vessel. In 1920, keeping up with marine industrial innovation the Maria Saluta was upgraded with its first mechanical engine. In the 1920’s the Maria Saluta came under the ownership of the Imperial government of what was then the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1919-1941). The ship was renamed Nanos and operated as a state owned cargo boat used primarily in the transportation of coal.

In 1957, the Nanos was renamed Rasica and underwent a complete reconstruction in the Piran Shipyard, in what is present day south western Slovenia. During the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, the Rasica remained a merchant ship within the Adriatic and Mediterranean region. During this time, while sailing along the northern African coastline, the Rasica was severely damaged and underwent major repairs in Tunis. While undergoing repairs in Tunis, the ship was restored using Mahogany, sacred wood in Tunisia. After the extensive reconstruction she endured in Tunis, the Rasica returned to Croatia and continued its role as an important merchant ship along the Adriatic Sea. In 1966, the Rasica became the Argonaut. From 1967-1969 the ship remained docked in the Piran shipyard until marine merchant, Milivoj Benic bought it for the transport of salt and sea sand. Milivoj, also known as Vojko Benic, recalled many times how when he first saw the ship in 1932 at the age of six, he had never seen a more beautiful ship sail down the Adriatic Sea. Vojko Benic grew up on the island of Pasman, in the village of Nevidane, near the city of Zadar, Croatia. He recalled as a child the ship sailing through the channel of Pasman, the ship moved as he described “like a fly through tar.”

Until 1989, the Argonaut was used as a cargo ship by the Benic family for the transport of sea sand down the Adriatic coast. It was in 1990 that Vojko Benic and his family decided to reconstruct the Argonaut into a tourist transportation vessel. In 1990, the Argonaut entered the Betina shipyard (located on the Island of Muter) to undergo major reconstruction to become what it remains today, a major tourist transportation vessel and attraction on the central Adriatic coast.

In 2002, Vojko Benic’s oldest grandson, Dominik Vojko Benic took over operations of the vessel and continues the family tradition of maritime operation. The salt of the sea is in his blood as his grandfather would always say. It is with passion and family pride that Dominik continues with day tours, school tours, weddings, bachelor and bachelorette parties and the annual Garden Party Festival. Welcome to Croatia, a beautiful pristine relatively undiscovered paradise in the heart of Europe. Imagine a beautiful, timeless classic to take you there, the m/b Argonaut will help you discover and explore the hidden beauty of the Kornati Islands along Croatia’s coastline. Come and be a part of the Argonaut’s history!